Syrian president Bashar al-Assad issued a presidential decree Saturday to set up a national committee to draft a new constitution in the country, dpa quoted the state news agency SANA as reporting.
According to the decree, the committee must complete its mission within a period not exceeding four months from the date of issuing the decree and it has the right to consult whoever it finds appropriate to accomplish the mission, SANA said.
The move is part of a package of political reforms promised by al-Assad, who is facing unprecedented protests against his 11-year rule.
SANA also said that an armed group had attacked a bus heading from Damascus to the northern city of Aleppo, injuring the driver and several passengers.
Syrian authorities blame "gangs of armed terrorists" for the unrest that is gripping the country.
More than 3,000 civilians, including at least 187 children, have been killed in Syria since protests erupted in mid-March, the United Nations said on Friday.