Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria and Regional Secretary of the Ba’ath Party, provided an extensive televised speech defending his government’s motivations and actions, despite global strain on his embattled government for its ten month crackdown on protestors. Syrian activists referred to his speech as “meaningless” and “worthless.” As al-Assad delivered his speech, more violence throughout the country erupted. The acts of violence left 38 dead, three children, according to LCC, which organizes and documents anti-government demonstrations.
Further into his address, al-Assad blamed the violence on “external conspiracies” and said that the Syrian country is facing terrorism within its own territories. “The Arab League is the reflection of the Arab situation,” said al-Assad. “The Arab League is our miserable situation.” A member of the Arab League said the Syrian regime “have not ceased killing civilians.” “They have pulled their troops back from residential neighborhoods. They have not allowed Arab League observers the unfettered access they committed to. They have not allowed the international media unfettered access.” The LCC looks ahead to Arab and international participation in severing all resources that may support the regime as a means of curtailing its repressive behavior.
