“KNOW BETTER WITH MESOP” – Assad Offers Amnesty to Rebels

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad issued a presidential decree granting amnesty to all rebels who surrender or free prisoners and Russia says it is working to establish humanitarian corridors to allow civilians and rebels to flee besieged neighborhoods of Aleppo. Human rights advocates expressed concern that the implementation of the decree could be monitored or enforced. The conciliatory rhetoric comes as U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura works to arrange a new round of peace talks, which he says are expected to begin at the end of August.