DAMASCUS: The authorities in Syria on Monday set a deadline of 15 days for people who had committed “unlawful acts” to give themselves up, as a wave of arrests was reported across the country. The ultimatum came as activists planned fresh anti-government demonstrations following the deaths of dozens of people in weekend protests. In a statement, the interior ministry told “citizens who have participated in or committed unlawful acts such as bearing arms, attacking security or spreading lies to surrender by May 15 and hand their weapons in to the competent authorities.” It also called on Syrians to “supply information about saboteurs, terrorists and arms caches... they will be spared any subsequent legal consequences.” A military spokesman on Monday announced the arrest of 499 people in the southern flashpoint town of Daraa, a week after thousands of troops backed by tanks swooped on the town to crush protests. The spokesman also announced the deaths of two members of the security forces “as well as 10 terrorists.” Eight soldiers were wounded and five gunmen waiting in ambush were arrested, the military added. The Syrian army conducted raids in cities and towns across the nation Monday, arresting scores of people in an attempt to crush the uprising, activists said. Human rights activist Mustafa Osso said the army brought reinforcements to the western cities of Zabadani near the Lebanese border and the northern towns of Raqqa and Idlib. “There's heavy army presence and soldiers are conducting door-to-door raids,” he said.
