Syrian President Bashar Assad in a rare public appearance presented a plan for ending the country’s deadly civil war, but called his opponents “terrorists” and made clear he had no intention to leave office, presenting himself as his people’s protector.
His dismissive attitude toward critics, and his dangling of limited concessions, offered little hope for a diplomatic breakthrough to end the 21-month-old civil war.
Assad cast himself as a leader saddened by his country’s strife and ready to find a way to end the conflict, but only on his terms. In his roughly hour-long speech at the national opera house in central Damascus, Assad sketched out a plan for peace.
In phase one, Assad called for a freeze to the fighting and an end to foreign aid to anti-government forces. If those conditions were met, Assad said he would order his forces to halt military operations and convene a national dialogue conference. Then, under a transitional government, the draft of a new constitution would be put to a national referendum. In a final phase, a new government would be formed and prisoners released.
Assad offered little detail but presented himself as the one who would guide Syria back to stability.
Read more: Syria's Assad offers peace plan but stands firm - latimes.com
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