Syrian soldiers opened fire today on tens of thousands of protesters who flooded the streets shouting “We will not kneel!” in a strong show of defiance against President Bashar Assad.

Protesters against the government of Syria set fire to offices of the ruling party today while hundreds of political prisoners were released in a bid to appease the rioters.

The Syrian government has pledged to consider lifting some of the Middle East’s most repressive laws in an attempt to stop a week-long uprising in a southern city from spreading and threatening its nearly 50-year rule.