Syrian President Bashar al-Assad received Sunday a copy of the new draft constitution from the head of a national committee entrusted with drafting a new constitution, the state-run SANA news agency reported.
Assad is to review the draft constitution and refer it to the People's Assembly before putting it to a referendum, Xinhua quoted SANA as saying.
The committee's members stressed that the new constitution has been written in a way that would preserve the dignity and the right of the Syrian people, said SANA.
The Syrian president on Oct. 15, 2011 decreed the formation of a national committee to prepare a draft constitution within four months. The committee comprises of 29 academics, lawyers and opposition figures.
Amending the constitution has been one of the main demands by Syrian protestors, particularly canceling an article which states that the Baath party is the leader of the nation and the society.
The amendment of the article would pave the way for the formation of parties besides the Baath party and 11 other closely associated parties known as the National Progressive Front.
President Assad, in a national speech on Jan. 10, pledged that the upcoming constitution would be focused on political and party pluralism as well as institutions. He also promised to hold a referendum on the new charter at the beginning of March.