January 10th, 2012
05:46 AM ET

Al-Assad blames 'external conspiracy' for Syria violence

In a rare and defiant speech Tuesday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed the unabated violence in his country on an "external conspiracy," criticized the Arab League as toothless and said that the international call for reform wasn't taking into account what the country was really facing: terrorism.

While he did not explicitly point the finger at a particular country, a defiant al-Assad blamed both Western and Arab elements for the unrest.

"The mask has fallen off these faces," he said. "No wise person denies these international conspiracies that is being done in order to spread fear inside. But this time, it was done with people from inside."

He also denied that his forces had opened fire on protesters.

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Filed under: Justice • World
soundoff (14 Responses)
  1. Scottish Mama

    Another out of touch dictator?

    January 10, 2012 at 5:49 am | Report abuse |
  2. Joey Isotta-Fraschini ©™

    @ Scottish Mama:
    Good morning.
    Actually, I don't think that President Bashar al-Assad is out of touch.
    I think that his assessment of external influences is probably correct.

    January 10, 2012 at 6:17 am | Report abuse |
  3. Scottish Mama

    @Joey- external Arab spring and speading their wings? or Western influence?

    January 10, 2012 at 6:27 am | Report abuse |
  4. Scottish Mama

    Good mornin' Joey.

    January 10, 2012 at 6:30 am | Report abuse |
  5. Jazzy

    Both, Morning and good day. I had to get a quick one in before I go to work. I won't be seeing you guys for awhile. have blessed week Y'all

    January 10, 2012 at 6:33 am | Report abuse |
  6. banasy©

    Well< od course he says that...he 's not going to admit that anythine he has done may have caused any unrest.
    I think JIF is also right; the external influences being that the eyes of Syria are looking at what is happening in the ME; perhaps they decided "enough is enough"?

    January 10, 2012 at 9:15 am | Report abuse |
  7. banasy©

    That should be "Well, of course."

    January 10, 2012 at 9:15 am | Report abuse |
  8. Scottish Mama

    @banasy- I think he is out of touch and step with the growning pains of an unrest of a population of the Syria that have wised up, are young and idealistic, and do not wish to have someone tell them their worth.

    January 10, 2012 at 9:30 am | Report abuse |
    • banasy©

      No one has the right to tell another person their worth, let alone tell an entire country.

      January 10, 2012 at 10:52 am | Report abuse |
  9. Al Asshat

    Why won't everyone just leave me alone.

    January 10, 2012 at 12:26 pm | Report abuse |
  10. Iran

    It's Israel's fault.

    January 10, 2012 at 1:46 pm | Report abuse |
  11. THE ONE AND ONLY DRAKOREX1

    NOT ME!THE TROLL IS TROLLING IT SELF.ID CALL THAT MENTAL MASTER *B*A*T*I*O*N*

    January 10, 2012 at 3:25 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Pharma X

    Wow. Whouldda thunk powerful nations would meddle in the affairs of weaker nations. We learn from history, but have we learned from the history of nations? Can you show me even one world power in history that DIDN'T do EXACTLY what Syria's leader claims is being done today? No. You cannot. They don't teach you modern history unfolding. You kinda have to see it for yourself. Major Media/TV isn't going to show it to you.

    January 10, 2012 at 8:06 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Scottish Mama

    @Joey- Maybe its da trolls?

    January 10, 2012 at 9:17 pm | Report abuse |
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