Elsewhere in mideast

Syria: Panel formed to study emergency

DAMASCUS: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad,facing a wave of demonstrations for greater freedoms,has set up a committee to look into replacing a decades-old emergency law with anti-terrorism legislation. The state news agency SANA said on Thursday the panel would study and prepare legislation including protecting the nations security and the citizens dignity and fighting terrorism,paving the way for lifting the emergency law. It said the committee would complete its work by April 25,but gave no further details.