"President Assad has issued decree number 23, granting a general amnesty for crimes committed” prior to Tuesday April 16, the Syrian state news agency, SANA, reported on Tuesday.

The newly-issued decree will not apply to people found guilty of smuggling weapons or drug-related crimes, but those convicted of joining the insurgents would get lighter sentences, said the decree.

Under the decree, "the death penalty will be replaced with a life sentence of hard labor," the state-run agency added.

"Syrians who joined a terrorist organization will only have to serve a quarter of their sentences," said the President’s decree, pointing out that "the decision does not apply to those who avoided conscription”.

Damascus has repeatedly called on the armed foreign-backed entities to lay down their weapons and engage in a dialog with the government.

Assad has issued several pardons, including for those convicted of acts against the state, during the two-year crisis, usually ahead of national holidays.

The latest decree comes on the eve of the anniversary of the 1946 withdrawal of French troops from Syria that marked the end of France's mandate of the Middle-eastern Arab country.

Syria's unrest began in March 2011 and has since turned into a war that has killed many people including large numbers of army and security personnel.