Assad joins pro-Syria rally in Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has once again vowed to crush foreign-backed conspiracies against his government, saying the crisis in the country is nearing its end.

Addressing thousands of government supporters in the Syrian capital, Damascus, Assad said on Wednesday that the support of Syrians for his government gives him power to fight hard against the external conspiracy trying to destabilize the country.

“I wanted to be with you so I can draw strength from you in the face of everything that Syria is subjected to. It was important that we maintain our faith in the future. I have that faith in the future and we will undoubtedly triumph over this conspiracy,” the Syrian president told his supporters.

”You are standing against a desecration of our identity, and you are confirming your steadfastness and support for the armed forces, whose martyrs are falling every single day so you can live in safety,” he added.

Assad’s wife Asma and their two children accompanied him on his surprise appearance in the central Umayyad Square in Damascus.

Assad’s surprise appearance came one day after he gave a televised speech, in which he said the Arab League has failed to protect Arab interests, and expressed regret over the AL suspension of Syria’s membership.

The Syrian president, however, said that Damascus will not close the door on any Arab solution which respects its sovereignty.

“Our priority now is to regain the security in which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist,” Assad said on Tuesday.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March. According to the UN, over 5,000 people have been killed in ten-month long unrest.

While the West and the Syrian opposition accuse the government of killing protesters, Damascus blames ”outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.