Syria government has passed a bill to end the state of emergency in the country, which was declared in 1963. According to Syria’s official news agency SANA, during a session chaired by Prime Minister Dr. Adel Safar last evening, the Cabinet also passed a bill on abolishing the Higher State Security Court. These bills were passed after weeks of pro-democracy protests and several deaths. The bills will now go before parliament for approval.AIR correspondent reports, repeal of the emergency law has been a central demand of reformists since protests began on March 15. Protest leaders have said that lifting the state of emergency would not be enough, and have demanded an end to the Baath party's stranglehold on Syrian politics. The main centres of unrest have been the agricultural province of Daraa in the south, the major towns of Latakia, Banias and Homs, as well as the Damascus suburbs. Several people were reportedly killed in clashes during demonstrations since 15 March.