Syria update

Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, has promised to consider reforms after a week of violent protests in the southern city of Daraa.

But that has not stopped the protesters who have called for countrywide demonstrations on Friday.

Thousands of people were on the streets on Thursday to mourn people they say were shot during the government's crackdown.

There are reports that Assad will speak to his nation within the next few hours to try to calm the situation.

Here's more from Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from the capital, Damascus.

Well, in Syria, the president there has promised

to consider reforms after a week of violent protest

in the southern city of Daraa

But that hasn't stopped protesters, who have called

for country-wide demonstrations on Friday

Thousands of the people were on the streets on Thursday

to mourn people they say were shot during

the government's crackdown.

There are reports that Bashar al-Assad will speak to the nation

within the next few hours to try

to calm the situtation.

Rula Amin joins me now from Damascus.

Rula, as we say, the president expected to address

his population. He has offered some quite substantial

concessions, but they don't seem to be—

or we don't know yet

—whether they're going to have an impact

on the day's protests.

Yes, it remains to be seen. However, we did speak

to many Syrians, including the people in Daraa.

And, the response to these measures is mixed.

Now, the activists, and the hardcore opposition activists

are very skeptical

and they say these are just lip service, and

won't change much. Others do give the president

the benefit of the doubt, and they say this

is a good start. Let's give him some time.

Maybe it will materialize.

And, maybe there will be change in Syria

without having, or forcing the people

to go into the street.

We have to remember, the protests have been

confined to Daraa despite seven days

of very strong clashes, where dozens were killed.

The capital remained quiet,

and so have the rest of the Syrian towns.

Now, today, it's going to be a challenge

and a test, both for the activists and the opposition, and the government.

If the people take to the streets in other towns,

maybe the concessions are too late.

If they don't, it means the president has managed

to contain the crisis in Daraa,

and that some of the people, some Syrians at least

have bought his line, and are giving him time

and putting some faith in these new measures.

But, the fact that the measures have been offered

at all Rula, to put this into context for us,

how surprising is that, given that this is a regime

which has a history of heavy handed brutal crackdowns

on any kind of uprising?

Yes, six months ago, nobody would have dreamt

that these kinds of concessions would have

been made in Syria, but by a month ago it seemed

very logical.

Now, I arrived here on Sunday, and the minute

I arrived, it was obvious that both the people

the Syrian people and the government

realize that change is coming to Syria,

and the government knows it cannot continue

with its old ways.

And, the president had made it clear

he understands the need to reform

and he will do it.

The people want it now, they want it serious

they want it meaningful, and they don't want to wait.

And, there's a race with time.

Now, some people believe that the president

himself wants to change, but he is surrounded by

a group of people, or the system itself,

that's not allowing him to do what he wants to do.

This is kind of giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The protest in Syria, in Daraa, added more

pressure on the government, and made the government

feel that it's very urgent to act now

before it's too late.

So, for now, it seems the president is keen

to contain the crisis in Syria

and he's determined.

People want to make sure he's also determined

to bring change to Syria, not just to contain the crisis.

And, of course, we will be following

the developments there with you Rula.

Thanks very much indeed, for now Rulla, in Damascus.