16/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - Catherine Ashton speaks about the release of Haitham al Maleh. Catherine Ashton, the European high representative for external policy, said that the release of Haitham al Maleh on 8 March is “a positive first step that I hope will be followed by the full restoration of his civil rights, including the right to travel freely outside Syria and return”. The high representative seized this occasion to reiterate “my call on the government of Syria to reconsider all cases of prisoners of conscience … and to immediately release all such prisoners and fully restore their civil rights” and stop harassing the political opposition. Ashton added that Syria must comply with its international commitments on human rights. (F.B./transl.fl)