Ziad Haidar, an editor at the pro-government newspaper al-Watan, says the step reflects the government's growing confidence.

"The confidence is seen on two levels," Mr Haidar said. "On the one hand, the government's confidence in its people and [and on the other] the confidence it has in the way it is running the country. There is no fear of opening up."

The US state department was quick to welcome Syria's decision, but voiced fears that users would run risks without real freedom of expression. There are fears the move could in fact aid a government crackdown on dissidents in a country where thousands of political prisoners are languishing in jails.