敘利亞總統在抗議聲中接受內閣辭職

Syria's state media say the government of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji al-Otari has resigned and President Bashar al-Assad accepted the Cabinet resignations on Tuesday, following more than a week of anti-government protests.

The Associated Press says the 32-member Cabinet will continue running the country's affairs until President Assad forms a new government. Earlier Tuesday, tens of thousands of Syrians took to the streets to rally in support of the government as the nation awaits an expected address by President Assad.

Government supporters poured into the streets of the capital Damascus and other major cities to take part in the government-sanctioned rallies. The demonstrators chanted and waved flags and pictures of the president. News reports say President Assad could announce an end to Syria's nearly 50-year-old emergency laws when he addresses the nation in the coming days.

The opposition protests represent the most serious threat to President Assad's 11-year-rule and the long-standing authority of his family. Syrian security officials have cracked down on the demonstrations, firing tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters. The U.S.-based rights group Human Rights Watch says at least 61 people have been killed since the unrest began.

敘利亞國營電視臺報導，敘利亞總理奧特里的內閣已經辭職，總統阿薩德星期二接受了他們的辭呈。此前發生了一個星期的反政府抗議。

美聯社說，32人組成的內閣將繼續管理國家事務，直到總統組建新政府。星期二早些時候，數以萬計的民衆上街集會，支持政府。與此同時，該國翹首以待敘利亞總統阿薩德預計發表的講話。

政府支持者涌上首都大馬士革和其它主要城市的街道，參加星期二政府批准的集會。示威者高呼口號，並揮舞着旗幟和阿薩德總統的照片。新聞報導說，在未來的幾天內，阿薩德總統可能會在全國講話時宣佈結束敘利亞將近50年的緊急狀態法。

反對派的抗議標誌着對阿薩德總統11年統治以及他的家族長期擁有權威的最嚴重威脅。敘利亞安全官員鎮壓了示威活動，他們發射催淚瓦斯和實彈驅散抗議者。位於美國的人權觀察組織說，自從敘利亞的動亂開始以來，至少有61人被打死。