DAMASCUS - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad granted on Tuesday general amnesty to people who committed crimes before Oct 23, the state-run SANA news agency reported.

The amnesty was issued apparently to mark the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha that starts on Friday. Details about the presidential pardon are yet to come.

Meanwhile, UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi has been pushing for a cease-fire in the country during the four-day festival, but chances are slim for such a truce to take place.

The Syrian leadership said it welcomes any peaceful initiative but on condition that it receives international assurance that the opposition groups, or what it calls as 'armed terrorist groups,' would take an initiative in observing the truce.

Brahimi said he received promises, but not commitment, from all opposition groups outside Syria regarding the proposed cease-fire.