NEW : The president expresses sadness for protesters ' deaths . NEW : People rally in Daraa for more reforms . Still , the Syrian Arab News Agency , the official government news service , said a police sergeant was `` martyred '' after being assaulted by protesters in Homs . NEW : Al - Assad denounced widespread corruption and unemployment . A new cabinet was sworn in immediately .
NEW : The president expresses sadness for protesters ' deaths . NEW : People rally in Daraa for more reforms . NEW : Al - Assad denounced widespread corruption and unemployment . A new cabinet was sworn in immediately .