Syrian authorities have arrested a popular opposition figure hours after passing a bill lifting nearly 50 years of emergency rule. Rights activists said Mahmoud Issa was taken from his home in the central city of Homs Tuesday evening by Syria's political security services. Earlier in the day, the government has passed a bill ending emergency rule, dissolved a security court that tries political prisoners and passed legislation requiring permits for demonstrations. Despite the new legislation, thousands of demonstrators gathered in cities and towns across the Syria yesterday to protest the regime of President Bashar al-Assad. At least two people were killed during clashes in Homs where protesters held a sit-in in the cities main square.