Syrian prisoner's health 'deteriorating'

The family of a former Syrian member of parliament jailed last year, Mamoun Homsi, say his health is deteriorating and is now very bad.

They say he's not eating.

Relatives said Mr Homsi had sent a message to the Syrian interior minister, complaining about poor treatment in jail and a ban on his family visiting him during the recent Eid al-Fitr Muslim holiday.

Syrian human rights activists accuse the authorities of failing to keep promises to the international community to investigate the conditions in which Mr Homsi and another former MP, Riyadh Saif, are being held while they serve five-year jail terms.

In July, the Syrian appeal court upheld their convictions for sedition and inciting rebellion.

Syria's opposition became more vocal when President Bashar Al-Assad succeeded his father just over two years ago and promised democratic reforms.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service