CAIRO: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressed crowds of supporters in Damascus's Ummayed Square on Wednesday, reiterating his promise to stay in power and defeat what he claims is an “international conspiracy” to overthrow his regime. Assad, who was shown on Syrian state TV addressing those gathered in the square, promised to save his country and people from “terrorists.” “Syrians will undoubtedly triumph over the (foreign) conspiracy,” he told the cheering crowd. Assad also made a speech in Damascus on Tuesday, in which he vowed to strike “foreign conspirators” in Syria “with an iron fist.” It was his first address to the nation since June. Assad claimed that there is no revolution in Syria, and has blamed unnamed conspirators for the ongoing violence in the country, sparking anger among the country's opposition forces and in the international community. According to estimates from the United Nations, over 5,000 Syria citizens have been killed in violent government crackdowns on the Syrian uprisings. Syria's opposition forces say that they will not stand aside until Assad is completely removed from power. Assad's regime is facing increasing international pressure to step down and cede to protester demands. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/bnn4L Tags: Bashar Al Assad Section: Latest News, Syria
