The initiative proposed by the government includes the granting of amnesty to insurgents who voluntarily lay down their weapons and deserters who surrender to the judicial and military authorities and then rejoin the ranks of the army.

Local authorities announced that 900 armed men were pardoned inthe last 24 hours in Deir Ezzor, amounting to almost 34,000 fugitives who joined the reconciliation launched since last November.

Similarly, the reconciliation center in the city of Sabkha in Raqa province has received 3,553 irregulars to date, according to military sources cited by the al-Watan diary.

At least 2,400 people were pardoned in the towns of Dareya and Kisweh, south of Damascus, after joining the government initiative.

The Syrian Army expanded its policies based on reconciliation to restore normality in certain provinces and regions without resorting to military operations that could cause material and human losses.

pgh/llp/jha/fm