Syria's Assad vows 'iron hand' against foes
January 11, 2012, Wednesday
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SYRIAN President Bashar Assad vowed yesterday to respond to threats against him with an "iron hand" and refused to step down, insisting he still has his people's support despite the 10-month-old uprising against him.
In his first speech since June, Assad repeated claims that a foreign conspiracy and terrorists are behind the unrest - not true reform-seekers.
"Our priority now is to regain security which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron hand," Assad said in a nearly two-hour speech at Damascus University, where he stood at a podium flanked by Syrian flags. "We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country."
Assad also lashed out at the Arab League, saying the Cairo-based bloc failed to protect Arab interests. The League has suspended Syria and sent a team of monitors to assess whether the regime is abiding by an Arab-brokered peace plan that Assad agreed to on December 19.
"The Arab League failed for six decades to protect Arab interests," Assad said. "We shouldn't be surprised it's failed today."
Kuwait's official news reported that a group of Arab League observers were attacked in the northern city of Latakia on Monday and two Kuwaiti army officers were lightly injured. KUNA news agency said the observers were attacked by "unknown protesters" on Monday.
Assad, 46, inherited power 11 years ago from his father.
"We will declare victory soon," Assad said. "When I leave this post, it will be also based upon the people's wishes," he added.
Assad also accused hundreds of media outlets of working against Syria and claimed an interview he gave to Barbara Walters at ABC news network last month was altered and accused the station of "professional fabrication."
"They failed, but they have not given up," he said of media outlets in the speech, broadcast live on state television.
Since the start of the uprising last March, Assad has blamed a conspiracy and media fabrications for the unrest - allegations that the opposition dismiss.
Assad also said he was implementing reforms and that a referendum on a new constitution should be held in March. The constitution enshrines his Baath party as leader of the state. But Assad said the crisis is hampering these measures. "If reform is forced, it will fail," he said. "Reform for us is the natural path."
In his first speech since June, Assad repeated claims that a foreign conspiracy and terrorists are behind the unrest - not true reform-seekers.
"Our priority now is to regain security which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron hand," Assad said in a nearly two-hour speech at Damascus University, where he stood at a podium flanked by Syrian flags. "We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country."
Assad also lashed out at the Arab League, saying the Cairo-based bloc failed to protect Arab interests. The League has suspended Syria and sent a team of monitors to assess whether the regime is abiding by an Arab-brokered peace plan that Assad agreed to on December 19.
"The Arab League failed for six decades to protect Arab interests," Assad said. "We shouldn't be surprised it's failed today."
Kuwait's official news reported that a group of Arab League observers were attacked in the northern city of Latakia on Monday and two Kuwaiti army officers were lightly injured. KUNA news agency said the observers were attacked by "unknown protesters" on Monday.
Assad, 46, inherited power 11 years ago from his father.
"We will declare victory soon," Assad said. "When I leave this post, it will be also based upon the people's wishes," he added.
Assad also accused hundreds of media outlets of working against Syria and claimed an interview he gave to Barbara Walters at ABC news network last month was altered and accused the station of "professional fabrication."
"They failed, but they have not given up," he said of media outlets in the speech, broadcast live on state television.
Since the start of the uprising last March, Assad has blamed a conspiracy and media fabrications for the unrest - allegations that the opposition dismiss.
Assad also said he was implementing reforms and that a referendum on a new constitution should be held in March. The constitution enshrines his Baath party as leader of the state. But Assad said the crisis is hampering these measures. "If reform is forced, it will fail," he said. "Reform for us is the natural path."
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