Criminals in Syria, including those convicted of some of the most serious offences, will have their sentences cut as part of an amnesty by President Bashar al Assad.

Those who were given the death penalty will now have a life sentence of hard labour, while life terms will be cut to 20 years in jail.

In Syria, the death penalty can be for crimes including treason, espionage, murder, arson resulting in death, desertion of the armed forces to the enemy, violent robbery and terrorism.

For civilians, the method of execution is hanging, while military personnel are shot.

Also under the amnesty, draft dodgers inside the country will be pardoned if they report for duty within three months, while those abroad will have six months to enlist.

Aid agencies say the fear of conscription and punishments for avoiding it are among the reasons refugees give for not returning home.

The Assad decree relates to crimes committed before 14 September, and prisoners with incurable diseases including cancer will be freed.

But there are exceptions to the amnesty.

They include Syrians who took up arms to fight the regime, and those who colluded with foreign nations against Syria or joined insurgents that Damascus sees as terrorists.

Other exceptions include drug crimes and arms smuggling.

In a 2018 report, Amnesty International said the death penalty remained in force for many offences, but authorities disclosed little information about death sentences passed and no information on executions.

Since Syria’s uprising began in March 2011, sparking a civil war, similar amnesties have been issued on several occasions – most recently last year.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Russia, Turkey and Iran will meet in the Turkish capital Ankara on Monday to discuss the situation in Idlib province which has been under attack from government forces since 30 April.

A truce has been holding despite some violations since the end of August.

Russia and Iran are strong backers of Mr Assad and have helped his forces reclaim control of most of the country from different rebel factions and jihadists.

Turkey supports the Syrian opposition.

The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced half the population.

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