Syrian President Bashar al-Assad vowed on Tuesday 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 uprising.
In the president's first national address in more than six months, Assad said no one can denythat fighting the "terrorists" is the right policy and pledged the government's continued efforts to ensure the country's security.
Assad said in a two-hour speech at Damascus University that his priority is to regain the security in which the country "basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron hand".
"We will not be lenient with those who work with outsiders against the country," he said.
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 government is abiding by an Arab-brokered peace plan that Assad agreed to on Dec 19. The moves were humiliating for Syria, which considers itself a powerhouse of Arab nationalism.
Assad said that "The Arab League failed for six decades to protect Arab interests, and was not surprised that it has "failed" again.
The president has made only four public speeches since the anti-government uprising began in March, inspired by the revolutions sweeping the Arab world. The government's crackdown on dissent has killed more than 5,000, according to UN figures, and led to international isolation and sanctions.
Tuesday's speech differed little from his previous appearances, in that Assad struck a defianttone and reiterated claims of conspiracy.
The opponents denounced the speech. A Syria-based activist claimed that "Bashar is completely removed from reality, as if he is talking about a country other than Syria".
Also on Tuesday, Assad accused hundreds of media outlets of working against Syria to "push us toward ... collapse".
Questions:
1. Where did Assad give his two hour speech?
2. Which city is the Arab League based in?
3. What did the Syria-based activist claim about Assad?
Answers:
1. Damascus University.
2. Cairo.
3. That he is completely removed from reality.
Yao named as NBA Western Conference Player of the Week
Zheng to return to Shandong for East Asian tournament
Yao no longer NBAs big man in China as Kobe rules
Brazilian player booked for kissing ref
Mavs keep cool, tie series with Warriors
国内英语资讯:Premier calls for further reform
国内英语资讯:China Focus: China marks Martyrs Day at Tiananmen Square
从姚明到易建联
Iverson, Carmelo power Nuggets by Spurs
国内英语资讯:China hopes for better investment conditions in Belarus: premier
Han grabs two as China beat Uzbekistan 3-1
Figure skating champions to tie knot
苏丹政府被控在达尔富尔使用化学武器
国际英语资讯:Americans desire for major third party surges: poll
NBA stopover adds to Shanghai credentials
科比以50分把湖人队带进决赛
利物浦,AC米兰晋级半决赛
郑智的未来跟球队的命运息息相关Zhengs future tied to Charltons Premiership safety
棒球联盟得到日本的帮助 Baseball league gets Japanese help
Ohio States Oden plans to enter draft
国内英语资讯:Second Sino-German economic dialogue kicks off in Berlin
中国在亚洲锦标赛中获得三枚金牌
国内英语资讯:Chinese presidents special envoy attends Peres funeral
贝克汉姆准备开战皇家马德里
鲁尼再次看到曼联进入决赛
Rematches, returns on tap in NBA playoffs
超震撼!土耳其公司打造出现实版变形金刚(视频)
Meet China prospect Yi at NBA
盘点世界上最强大的护照
FU makes Hendry suffering for lose