Assad hits out at ‘conspirators’

Syria’s president makes first public address since protests erupted two weeks ago and after sacking cabinet President Bashar al-Assad has blamed the wave of protests sweeping his country on “conspirators” who are trying to destroy Syria in his first public address since the demonstrations erupted nearly two weeks ago. As he entered parliament for the speech, legislators chanted: “God, Syria and Bashar only!” and, “Our souls, our blood we sacrifice for you Bashar.” The speech is seen as a crucial test for his leadership and one that may determine Syria’s future. Assad said security forces were given “clear instructions” not to harm citizens during the protests. Human rights groups say more than 60 people have been killed since 18 March in a crackdown on the protests. The coming days will be key to determining whether Assad’s concessions will calm the protest movement, which started after security forces arrested several teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a wall in the impoverished city of Deraa in the south. Assad is also expected to announce constitutional amendments and sweeping reforms, including an end to nearly 50 years of widely despised emergency laws that give the regime a free hand to arrest people without charges. On Tuesday, Assad fired his cabinet in another move designed to pacify the anti-government protesters. Syria Bashar Al-Assad Arab and Middle East unrest Middle East Protest guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 30, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.