Syrian President raps foreign intervention

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has lashed out at foreign powers for attempting to destabilize Syria, criticizing the Arab League for its stance toward Damascus.

Delivering a national speech on Syria’s internal matters in Damascus on Tuesday, the Syrian president said the Arab League’s intervention is worse than international interference.

He also cited the Syrian sovereignty as the most important issue for the Syrian nation.

Assad lambasted the ‘foreign conspiracies’ against the Syrian nation, saying that Syria will remain free and independent despite crisis.

He touched upon the government’s ban on some foreign media, noting that at the beginning of the unrest, foreign journalists could work freely, but their attempts to fabricate the developments forced some control.

Arab League observers are currently in the country to investigate Syria’s months-long unrest and to monitor the implementation of a peace initiative presented by the bloc to put an end to Damascus’s crisis.

The Syrian president also described the events of the past months as regretful, saying that the recent unrest has been a serious test for Syria.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March, with demonstrations being held both against and in favor of President Bashar al-Assad.

Hundreds of people including the members of the security forces have been killed in the turmoil.

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

Assad also dismissed reports of national division. “We will not be lenient against division,” he maintained.

He further pointed out the necessity of reforms in Syria, saying that the government is “open to dialogue but some sections of opposition are not interested.”