Syria's president said he expects the government to lift the country's decades-old emergency laws next week.

Lifting the state of emergency has been a key demand during a wave of protests over the past four weeks. The demonstrations have posed the most serious challenge to President Bashar Assad's authoritarian regime.

The emergency laws give the regime a free hand to arrest people without charge and extends the state's authority into virtually every aspect of Syrians' lives.

Mr Assad said he expects the emergency laws to be lifted next week. He spoke in a televised speech before the Cabinet.

Earlier it was reported that a Syrian policeman died after being beaten by protesters during a demonstration in a central city.

The state-run news agency SANA said the 32-year-old officer was beaten with sticks and stones on his chest and head during a protest in Homs following Friday prayers that witnessed rioting and attacks on security forces.

Tens of thousands of people also marched in the Syrian capital Damascus in the largest demonstrations to date in the country's month-long uprising.

Police dispersed them with tear gas and batons.

Thousands of others staged protests around the country, with security forces generally watching from the sidelines instead of launching a crackdown.