No end to emergency rule: Assad speaks of ‘conspiracy’

DAMASCUS, March 30: President Bashar al-Assad on Wednesday blamed conspirators for unrest sweeping Syria and dashed hopes of an end to decades of emergency rule in his first speech since protests erupted two weeks ago. In a highly anticipated address to parliament that lasted almost an hour, Assad warned Syria`s "enemies" were targeting its unity and made no mention of the hoped-for lifting of the state of emergency. While acknowledging that the Syrian people had legitimate demands which had not been met, Assad warned that the needs of the people had been used to "trick them into heading to the streets." "We are all for reform. That is the duty of the state. But we are not for strife," Assad said. "Reform is not a trend," he added. "When the people demand their rights, it is the state`s duty to fulfil their demands. "What we should watch out for is starting reforms under these circumstances right now, this passing wave." Presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban had said on Sunday that the government intended to lift the emergency, in force since the Baath took power in 1963, but could not elaborate on the "timeframe." Assad, who appeared relaxed and exchanged jokes with parliamentarians, echoed that statement on Wednesday. "The measures announced on Thursday were not made suddenly," he said. "The emergency law and political parties law have been under study for a year. "There are more, unannounced reforms … but giving a timeframe is a logistic matter. When we announce it in such circumstances, it is difficult to meet that deadline." Facebook group The Syria Revolution 2011, which has called for nationwide demonstrations on Friday, was abuzz with critical reaction to the speech. "What we understand from his response is that there is no escaping toppling the regime," read a posting on the group, which has attracted close to 100,000 fans but remains anonymous. Assad, who succeeded his father Hafez in 2000, has come under unprecedented domestic pressure over the past two weeks, with protesters defying emergency rule in public protests demanding more freedoms, emboldened by the wave of protest that has rocked the Arab world since December. The president warned that Syria was going through a "test of unity" and said its foes had taken advantage of the needs of the people to incite division. "I know that the Syrian people have been awaiting this speech since last week, but I was waiting to get the full picture… to avoid giving an emotional address that would put the people at ease but have no real effect, at a time when our enemies are targeting Syria," said the 45-year-old leader. "This conspiracy is different in shape and timing from what is going on in the Arab world," he added. "Syria is not isolated from the region… but we are not a copy of other countries." Assad was widely expected to elaborate on a string of reforms announced last week in the face of the rare street protests. The demonstrations, which began on March 15, were quickly contained in Damascus, but took root in the tribal region of Daraa, south of the capital, and in the confessionally divided city of Latakia on the Mediterranean coast. Gunfire could be heard in the port city following Assad`s speech, Latakia-based journalist Issam Khoury said. But it is Daraa that has sustained the most casualties, with activists estimating at least 100 people killed on Wednesday alone last week in clashes with security forces. Syrian human rights activists have accused security forces of killing 130 people in the crackdown. Amnesty International says upward of 55 people have been killed. Officials put the toll at some 30 dead. Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Otri tendered his government`s resignation on Tuesday and now acts in a caretaker capacity. A new cabinet is expected to be announced by the end of the week. Authorities have accused fundamentalists and "armed gangs" of stoking the unrest. —AFP