Assad offers pardon to rebels who surrender within 3 months

DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday offered amnesty to armed rebels who surrender to the government within three months, state news agency SANA reported.

According to a presidential decree issued by Assad, the pardon covers whoever held or possessed weapon for any reason, if they turn themselves in to the authorities within a three-month deadline starting Thursday.

The decree also promises pardon to captors who release their victims unharmed without ransom. This item gives the kidnappers one month to respond to the amnesty in order to be covered.

The pardon offer came one day after Assad told a Greek TV that the rebels who surrender themselves would be granted amnesty.

Throughout the country's five-year crisis, Assad has granted several pardons in a bid to quell the momentum of the pro-longed crisis.

The latest pardon came as the Syrian army has been making strides in the northern city of Aleppo against the rebels, particularly those holed in the eastern part of the city.

On Wednesday, the General Command of the Syrian Army said it had dropped tens of thousands of leaflets over the eastern part of Aleppo city, urging the rebels to surrender and the civilians to cooperate with government forces.

The leaflets also provided directions of safe exists for civilians to leave the rebel-held areas in eastern Aleppo.

Government forces and allied fighters have cut the last rebel supply route into eastern Aleppo.