Damascus, April 19 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Syrian government Tuesday lifted the almost five-decade long state of emergency in the country, the state-run SANA news agency said.

 
 On Saturday President Bashar al Assad pledged to abolish the emergency law that has been in force since 1963. A new government was formed in Syria Thursday as the country's leadership attempts to placate protesters calling for reforms.
 
 In response to pro-democracy protests, the authorities have pledged to implement economic and political reforms.
 
 On April 2, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon had expressed deep concern over the prevailing situation in Syria and called for immediate end to use of violence against peaceful demonstrators in the Middle East country.
 
 An estimated 80 to 200 people have been killed in protests and clashes that have raged since mid-March in Syria.