Syria announces Feb. 26 referendum on new constitution "It's a non-starter," said Syrian pro-democracy activist Shakeeb al-Jabri, who is based in Beirut. We want to write it ourselves, for one thing. And it's incredibly weak. The powers it gives to people are limited. It confirms our fears that there will be no true reform under Assad, only cosmetic reforms. Assad set Feb. 26 as the date for the referendum on the new constitution, which paves the way for multiple political parties to compete in elections for the legislature, sets a limit of two seven-year terms on the presidency and eliminates a clause that guarantees political supremacy to Assad's Baath Party, according to copies of the draft circulating in the Syrian press. If approved, the constitution "will take the country to a new era in cooperation with all spectrums of the Syrian people to achieve what we all aspire for in terms of developing our country to draw a brilliant future for next generations," Assad said in a comment quoted by the official news agency SANA. Reported details of the document suggest it opens the door to greater political plurality than has existed in Syria throughout the past four decades of dictatorship. But it also continues to concentrate sweeping powers in the hands of the president, who would have to approve the political parties that may compete in elections, would appoint the prime minister and would retain the right to issue laws when parliament is not in session. But with most members of the opposition calling for the ouster of Assad and his ministers and top aides, activists said the document does not go nearly far enough to meet their demands for radical change. On Wednesday, the security forces expanded their assault on the rebels to include the city of Hama, famous as the place where Assad's father brutally crushed a revolt 30 years ago by murdering tens of thousands of residents. Attacks are also taking place in opposition strongholds in the northern province of Idlib, the eastern province of Deir el Zour and the southern province of Daraa. There were no immediate reports of casualties on Wednesday, but the opposition Local Coordination Committees said 49 people were killed in the attacks Tuesday. More than 5,000 Syrians are estimated to have been killed since the uprising began nearly a year ago. Hundreds have reportedly died in the most recent violence, many of them in the besieged Homs neighborhood of Bab Amr, which has emerged as the epicenter of the increasingly armed revolt. The latest offensive began on the eve of a failed attempt by the U.S. and its allies to secure a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Syria. The resolution, which was intended to add weight to an Arab League proposal for Assad to surrender power, was vetoed by Russia and China. "I'm not sure how people are supposed to go out and vote when their towns and cities are under bombardment," Jabri said. But in any case, he added, most of those opposing the government are unlikely to want to vote for a document drafted by the president whose ouster they are seeking.