The Syrian government will tender its resign on Tuesday and a new cabinet will see the light within 24 hours, a high-ranking official has been reported by AFP as saying in Damascus.

Meanwhile, the French news agency goes on to report that thousands of supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have poured into central Damascus in a show of support for their leader, who is facing unprecedented domestic pressure amid a wave of dissent.

All roads leading to Sabeh Bahrat ("Seven Seas") square in Damascus were cut off by police armed with batons, as men, women and children raised Syrian flags and pictures of Assad and his father, late president Hafez al-Assad.

"The people want Bashar al-Assad," they chanted in unison, under a massive picture of their blue-eyed president that had been hoisted on Syria's central bank.

Al-Assad suporters were quoted saying: "We are here to show the real will of the Syrian people, and that is to protect and supporter their President, may God protect him. This rally is to stop the plot to destroy Syrian unity, and Bashar al-Assad is the spine of Syria. Without him, our country will be pushed into chaos."

The rally comes after a pledge by the authorities to lift the state of emergency in force since the ruling Baath party took power in 1963, sparked by two weeks of increasingly violent protests against the rule of Assad.

President Assad, under unprecedented pressure as protesters call for reforms, came to power in 2000. Now, gripped by a wave of deadly dissent since mid-March he is expected to address his people in the days to come and announce a string of reforms. He will announce the end of a state of emergency in Syria, in force since the ruling Baath party took power in 1963.