Syria’s Assad defiant in latest speech
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad insists he still has the country’s support despite a 10-month-old uprising against his regime.
“They continue to say the president will not step down. But I say the office of president is not more than a title, a role. When I leave this position, it will be because all of the Syrian people want it. I serve the Syrian people and listen to their wants and needs,” he said in the fourth televised speech since the revolt began.
He reiterated claims that a foreign conspiracy and terrorists are behind the unrest, not reform-seekers.
“The dark desires of warmongers outside cannot be hidden away and are made clear now. They cannot hide dark desires behind masks because they do not want to see or hear,” Assad said.
The United Nations estimates that more than 5,000 people have been killed since March 2011.
There are about 165 Arab League monitors in the country in a bid to establish whether the regime is adhering to an agreement made in that would see an end to the military crackdown on protesters.
The dark desires of warmongers outside cannot be hidden away and are made clear now. Bashar al-Assad
On Tuesday, two Kuwaiti members of that delegation of monitors were slightly injured in an attack by demonstrators on their way to the port city of Latakia, according to Kuwait’s state news agency.
Reuters later quoted an Arab League official who said that in total, 11 monitors were injused in the attack.
Arab League condemned the attack and held the Syrian government responsible for protecting mission.
Meanwhile, Israel has announced that it has plans to take in Syrian refugees if Assad’s regime is toppled.
According to the Jerusalem Post, Israel’s military chief said the country would help house refugees from the Syrian minority Alawite sect in the Golan Heights, the area that straddles the boundary between the two countries.
Lt Gen Benny Gantz said that when the regime falls “it is expected to result in a blow to the Alawite sect.”
Assad is a member of the Alawite sect, which number about two million in Syria, and they are strongly represented in the top ranks of the army and the Baath party in power.