Syria puts 12 on trial over call for democracy

Twelve opposition activists who signed a declaration calling for democracy in Syria went on trial on Wednesday and rejected all prosecution charges, a human rights group said.

"The 12 Damascus Declaration opposition members have appeared before the Criminal court," the National Organisation for Human Rights in Syria said.

"They rejected all accusations made against them and stressed that the Damascus Declaration was not an undertaking (carried out) in a secret manner and that its aim was to defend the homeland," it said in a statement.

The court adjourned the hearing until August 26.

The accused are charged with "spreading false information which weakens the morale of the nation and national sentiment, joining a secret organisation with the aim of modifying the nation's political and economic status, incitng racial and sectarian dissent and harming the state," according to Syrian non-governmental organisations.

In 2005, secular Syrian opposition parties and the London-based Muslim Brotherhood signed a founding text entitled the "Declaration of Damascus" which called for "a democratic and radical change."

A national council was formed in Syria but several of its members were subsequently arrested.