A/HRC/18/53 11 May –The Syrian Prime Minister announces that the government has established a committee to prepare a new law on parliamentary elections. 18 May – Al Jazeera reports, that their correspondent, Dorothy Parvaz is released after having disappeared for three weeks upon arrival in Damascus. The US expands its sanctions on Syria to include President Assad and six other Syrian officials. 23 May –EU restrictions against Syria are expanded to include President Assad and nine other senior members of the government. Restrictions include a ban from travelling to the EU and freeze on the officials’ assets. 27 May – “Home Protector’s Friday” (‫)ﺟﻤﻌﺔ ﺣﻤﺎة اﻟﺪﻳﺎر‬: protests take place in Latakia, Homs, Hama, Qamishli, Deir az-Zour and Damascus. 31 May –Dozens of tanks surround the towns of Rastan and Talbiseh. President Assad issues an amnesty on all political crimes committed before May 31, 2011. 1 June – Members of the Syrian opposition meet during a three-day conference in Antalya, Turkey. 3 June – “Freedom Children Friday” (‫)ﺟﻤﻌﺔ أﻃﻔﺎل اﻟﺤﺮﻳﺔ‬: more than 50,000 demonstrators gather in the centre of Hama amid heavy security presence. 5 June –Official governmental sources report that armed terrorist groups have attacked state buildings and police centers in the town of Jisr al-Shughour in the Idlib province. 6 June – The Syrian Official News Agency (SANA) reports that armed gangs have killed 120 policemen in an ambush in the town of Jisr al-Shughour. 9 June –Russia and China announce that they will oppose a US-backed UN Security Council resolution on Syria. 12 June: The Syrian army takes control of the town of Jisr al-Shughour. The government stated that it is trying to restore order after 120 security personnel were killed in the town. 16 June: The OHCHR presents its preliminary report on the situation in Syria at the Human Rights Council’s seventeenth session. In the report the High Commissioner, Navi Pillay, expresses grave concern about the deterioration of the human rights situation in Syria and renews calls for allowing access to the Fact-Finding mission in the country. 17 June: According to the UNHCR, the number of refugees in Turkey fleeing from northwestern Syria is at 9’600. 20 June : The Syrian President addresses the nation in a one-hour speech at the Damascus University in which he promises to initiate a process of "national dialogue" and a series of economic and political reforms. 21 June: The Syrian state news agency (SANA) reports that Syrian President has ordered a new general amnesty for all crimes committed in the country until 20 June. Syrian authorities organize a tour around Jisr al-Shughour for diplomats. 22 June: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem states that al-Qaeda might be behind some of the violence in the country. 24 June: “Friday of Lost Legitimacy” (‫)ﺟﻤﻌﺔ ﻓﻘﺪان اﻟﺸﺮﻋﻴﺔ‬: according to the Turkish foreign ministry, the number of Syrians sheltered in Turkey reached 11,739. The EU expands its sanctions to include three Iranian Officials. 27 June: Around 200 regime critics and intellectuals meet in Damascus to discuss strategies for peaceful transition to democracy in Syria. 119