President al-Assad issues pardon

President Hafez al-Assad on Monday in Damascus issued Legislative decree no. 3 for 1999, providing for a general pardon for crimes committed before March 11, 1999. The decree excepted crimes relating to drugs and drug smuggling connecting with resisting the authorities by the use of arms. The pardon does not include those criminals whose whereabouts are not known, unless they surrender themselves to competent authorities within three months as of the date this decree is issued. The decree is based on provisions in the country's constitution, SANA reported.