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Syria's Assad blames 'foreign conspiracy' | Syria's Assad blames 'foreign conspiracy' |
(40 minutes later) | |
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed a foreign conspiracy for trying to destabilise Syria. | Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed a foreign conspiracy for trying to destabilise Syria. |
The "external conspiracy is clear to everybody", he said in his first public remarks in months. | |
Syria's violent crackdown on 10 months of protests against his rule has drawn international condemnation. | |
He said elections could be held later this year but "terrorism", which he blames for the unrest, would be met with an "iron fist". | |
"Regional and international sides have tried to destabilise the country," President Assad said in a speech broadcast live nationally from Damascus University. | |
"Our priority now is to regain [the] security [in] which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron hand," he said. | |
"We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country." | |
BBC world affairs correspondent Nick Childs says the speech was a riposte to those who are asking questions about the pressure under which Mr Assad is operating. | |
It was a message that there will be no concessions and its main theme was that nothing is going to change as far as the Syrian response is concerned, our correspondent says. | |
'No order to fire' | |
The UN said last month that more than 5,000 civilians had been killed since protests began in March last year. | The UN said last month that more than 5,000 civilians had been killed since protests began in March last year. |
Syrian authorities say they are fighting armed groups, and that about 2,000 members of the security forces have been killed so far. | |
In recent months army deserters have joined the opposition and targeted government forces. | |
A team of 165 monitors from the Arab League has been in Syria since December to monitor implementation of a peace plan that calls for an end to all violence, the removal of heavy weapons from cities and the release of all political prisoners. | A team of 165 monitors from the Arab League has been in Syria since December to monitor implementation of a peace plan that calls for an end to all violence, the removal of heavy weapons from cities and the release of all political prisoners. |
Opposition groups have accused the Arab League mission of serving to cover up the crackdown on the protests, which has continued despite the presence of the observers. | Opposition groups have accused the Arab League mission of serving to cover up the crackdown on the protests, which has continued despite the presence of the observers. |
Mr Assad said that there were no orders for security forces to fire on protesters. | |
"There is no order from any level about opening fire on any citizen. According to the law, nobody should open fire - only in self-defence or during a clash with an armed person." | "There is no order from any level about opening fire on any citizen. According to the law, nobody should open fire - only in self-defence or during a clash with an armed person." |
'No snap reforms' | 'No snap reforms' |
Mr Assad lashed out at the Arab League, which suspended Syria in November and imposed sanctions, saying: "We were surprised Arabs did not stand with Syria". | |
He said Arab countries that opposed Syria were under outside pressure ,which was undermining their sovereignty. | |
But, he added, Syria would not "close its doors" to an Arab solution as long as "it respects Syria's sovereignty". | But, he added, Syria would not "close its doors" to an Arab solution as long as "it respects Syria's sovereignty". |
Mr Assad described the events of the past 10 months as "regretful" and said they had been a serious test for Syria. | |
However he ruled out snap reform in response to the unrest. | However he ruled out snap reform in response to the unrest. |
"We should link what happened before the crisis and post crisis and then embark on reform... We shouldn't build our reforms on this crisis," he said. | "We should link what happened before the crisis and post crisis and then embark on reform... We shouldn't build our reforms on this crisis," he said. |
There were no obstacles to a multi-party system, he said, adding that it was a question of time. | There were no obstacles to a multi-party system, he said, adding that it was a question of time. |
Mr Assad said he welcomed the idea of expanding the government to include "all political forces". | Mr Assad said he welcomed the idea of expanding the government to include "all political forces". |
A referendum on a new constitution could be held in March, he said, paving the way for elections in May or June. | A referendum on a new constitution could be held in March, he said, paving the way for elections in May or June. |
Syria is ruled by the Baath party, dominated by President Assad's family and the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shia Islam. | |
Are you in Syria or do you have family in Syria? What is your reaction to President Bashar al-Assad's speech? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in Syria or do you have family in Syria? What is your reaction to President Bashar al-Assad's speech? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |