Syrian gov't to expand national dialogue sessions

The Syrian government would send invitations soon to expanded national dialogue sessions to solve the political crisis in the country, local media reported Thursday. Invitations will be sent to nationwide opposition figures, 50- 70 people for each province, to prepare for month-long dialogue sessions that would lay foundations for a democratic transition in the country, al-Watan newspaper reported. The move coincided with preparations currently underway by the ruling Baath party for regional congress scheduled to convene next month. The Baath Party, which took over power after a 1963 coup that overthrew the military junta, is drafting a new constitution, according to the report. One of the major domestic and international demands on the country, which has been wracked by nearly seven months of protests, is to amend Syria's constitution, which would end the ruling Baath Party's monopoly on political power.