DAMASCUS // Syrian foreign minister Walid Moallem yesterday appeared to promise his country will soon become a model democracy, just hours after student protesters said security forces had beaten and arrested students at Damascus University.
Mr Moallem's remarks, at a televised news conference, were the first public suggestion by a senior regime official that Syria will move from a one-party system and autocratic police state to a democratic system.
"The seriousness of the reforms and the bright image of the Syrian people will appear … We don't take lessons from anyone … After accomplishing the reform, we will give lessons for the others in democracy," he said, rejecting claims that President Bashar Al Assad's promise of change lacked substance and sincerity.
"We will present an unprecedented sample of democracy for the region through our national dialogue, and there will be a social justice and an equality before the law … the negligent will be held accountable," he added.
His remarks came not long after students from Damascus University described coming under attack by pro-regime colleagues in campus residential buildings, in the upmarket Mezzeh district, on Tuesday night.
"Assad supporters broke into protesters' rooms and were beating them with wooden clubs and metal bars," said one campus resident, on condition of anonymity. "The security arrived and joined the attacks, there was blood everywhere I saw one man with his skull smashed, he was alone on the ground, being beaten by a mob."
Human rights activists in Damascus have said that as many as 80 students suspected of protesting had been arrested, with others hospitalised, some with serious injuries.
On Monday, Mr Al Assad pledged national dialogue as part of a reform package to be completed no later than the end of the year. Although he suggested the constitution could be rewritten, he stopped short of pledging democracy, an independent media or an end to violence against protesters.
Critics said it was unclear exactly what reforms had been offered in the speech. Mr Moallem appeared to provide clarification yesterday.
The comments were welcomed, but treated with deep scepticism by Syrian analysts, and brushed aside by dissidents.
"It would be nice if it's true, but why didn't the president say it when he spoke on Monday?" asked one independent analyst. "It strikes me as an attempt to buy time; Syria is under international pressure and wants to get out of that."
Mr Moallem made his comments after saying European Union sanctions against senior regime officials, set to be tightened this week, were an act of "war", although he did reach out to Turkey, saying he hoped it would "reconsider" its position.
Ankara has accused Damascus of "savagery" in its use of force against civilian protesters and Turkish President Abdullah Gul had been critical of Mr Al Assad's speech on Monday, saying the Syrian leader should have made an unequivocal promise to hold democratic elections and share power.
Yesterday's report of the attack on students was the second night in succession of anti-government protests and counter demonstrations by regime supporters at Damascus University.
Student dissidents have said that their rooms have been placed under electronic surveillance, with many fleeing back to family homes in fear, missing crucial exams.
One female undergraduate said protests were spreading among students, and predicted they would intensify once the exam period closed at the end of next week.
"We want freedom and we democracy, and this violence will not stop us from our goal," she said. "The protests will continue and if we are determined enough we will win in the end."
Syrian state-run media denied any anti-government protest or violence had taken place at the residential campus, showing footage of a pro-Assad rally in the area.
