Syria authorities release five political activists

Activists in the field of human rights in Damascus said yesterday that the Syrian authorities released the two Syrian opposition parliament members Mamoun al-Homsi and Riad Seif.

This announcement is the second within one week over releasing the two said activists. Last week, the daughter of Riad Seif denied what was rumored then that her father was released.

But she said that the prison's authorities "got out the TV, the telephone, the recorder and the electrical set that he used to use inside his prison's room," noting that the same thing happened with Mamoun al-Homsi and considered that as an indicator for a nearby release of the two men.

Homsi was sentenced to five year imprisonment after his detention in 2001 together with Riad Seif. In April 2003, parliamentarian Riad Seif was sentenced to five year imprisonment over the attempt to trying "to amend the constitution illegally." Both Homsi and Seif were calling for introducing reform into Syria before their detention

Meantime, A senior Syrian sources said that the Syrian leadership discussed on Tuesday the issue of releasing a number of political prisoners, while other sources said that the "Arab Bar Association" who will be holding a solidarity conference in Damascus with Syria on January 20- 22 received a confirming words that "Most, if not all, the prisoners of Damascus' Spring will be freed, in order to consolidate national unity," expecting the release before Saturday.

Hassan Abdul-Azeem, lawyer and spokesman for the "National Democratic Gathering" a Syrian opposition group asked for a special pardon from the president for Dr. Aref Dalilah after 10 years in prison starting from 2001, and a request to cut-short the sentences for ex- member of parliaments Riad al-Saif and Mamoun al-Homsi, and to the Habib Aisa, Fawaz Tellow, Waleed Al-Bouny, serving 5 years in prison starts at 2001.