A8 Syria Frees Political Prisoners Two of Syria 's most prominent political prisoners have been freed after five years behind bars , another signal that President Bashar al-Assad is trying to mollify domestic critics as he faces increased pressure from a United Nations investigation into the assassination of the former prime minister of Lebanon .
Bashar al-Assad /people/person/nationality Syria
Bashar al-Assad /people/person/nationality Syria
NN NNP VBZ JJ NNPS CD IN NNP POS RBS JJ JJ NNS VBP VBN VBN IN CD NNS IN NNS , DT NN IN NNP NNP NNP VBZ VBG TO VB JJ NNS IN PRP VBZ VBN NN IN DT NNP NNPS NN IN DT NN IN DT JJ JJ NN IN NNP .
Bashar al-Assad
PERSON
Syria
LOCATION
/people/person/nationality
Bashar al-Assad
PERSON
Syria
LOCATION
/people/person/nationality