Syrian government resigns amid rallies (UPDATES) (VIDEO)

The Syrian government resigned Tuesday and a new cabinet will be formed in 24 hours, Al Jazeera reports, following weeks of anti-government protests in the country.

The news came as a pro-government rally massed in the capital, Damascus, with thousands of people reportedly chanting in unison, "The people want Bashar al-Assad," referring to Syria's president, Al Jazeera reported.

"President Assad accepts the government's resignation," an announcement on state TV said Tuesday. However, Assad kept on the resigning prime minister, Naji al-Otari, as the caretaker prime minister.

Al Jazeera, meanwhile, pointed out that the government had little power in Syria, with power concentrated in the hand of Assad, his family and the security apparatus. 

Roads leading to Sabeh Bahrat ("Seven Seas") square in the capital were cut off by police armed with batons, as the crowd raised Syrian flags and pictures of Assad.

Rallies were taking place across Syria in response to a government appeal on Monday to help end pro-democracy protests that have left more than 60 people dead. Reformists have been demanding the release of all political prisoners, free and fair parliamentary elections and an end to media censorship.

Live footage being aired on Syrian state television on Tuesday showed crowds of people in the capital Damascus, as well as Aleppo, Hasaka, Homs and Hama.

School children were given the day off and bank employees and other workers were allowed two hours to attend the demonstrations, the Associated Press reported.

Vice-president Farouk al-Sharaa reportedly said Assad would reveal “important decisions” that would “please the Syrian people”.

According to the Irish Times, he is expected to announce the lifting of martial law, a cabinet reshuffle and other reforms.

Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a key ally of Syria, said he had urged Assad to "answer the people’s calls with a reformist, positive approach."

“The Syrians told us they were working on political parties: we hope these measures are actually implemented rather than remaining promises,” he said.

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