'We have terrorists who follow the ideology of al-Qaeda' claims President Assad Damascus – Arabstoday Violent clashes between opposition fighters and government forces continued in Syria on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of 28 people nationwide, activist sources have claimed. Rebel forces reached the outskirts of Damascus as intense fighting continued along the road to the Damascus International Airport, the Canadian hospital and Kwers military airport. The Free Syrian Army [FSA] also reportedly strengthened positions in Medmah Sham, al-Aqraba and other locations in the neighbouring city of Darya.
Fighting near the Taftanaz military air base entered its third day as rebel and government forces continued to vie for strategic control of the airport. Explosions shook the eastern part of the Zawya Mount in rural Idlib, while shelling was resumed in Zabadani, Gesrin and the Damascene suburb of Madira, resulting in casualties and widespread destruction of homes.
The Cham Network claimed: “28 people were killed at the hands of government forces in different parts of the country today.”
Activist sources have also reported a number of civilian dead on social networking site Facebook. Six civilians were found dead, allegedly executed after being arrested three days ago during an olive harvest near a brick factory in Qmenas, Idlib.
The reports come one day after intense fighting left 85 people dead nationwide on Saturday.
Official Syrian news agency SANA has meanwhile claimed: “On Saturday army units continued their pursuit of terrorist groups which usurp people’s property and target infrastructure in Damascus and Aleppo.”
The government source reported casualties amongst rebel forces in Idlib, after assaults on regime checkpoints near the Daiyef Valley in rural Maart. In Homs meanwhile army units allegedly destroyed an armed group that had attacked villagers in Tasnin, in the rural area of Rastan around Homs.
Earlier on Sunday, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad made a rare public appearance at the House of Arts and Culture in central Damascus, dismissing the rebel uprising as a “fake Arab Spring” led by a largely foreign “al-Qaeda” insurgency.
The President called for “full national mobilisation” to deal with a conflict he denied was between the government and opposition, but between “the nation and its enemies.”
In his first public appearance since June last year, Assad laid out his “political solution” to the crisis, including a cease-fire followed by national dialogue, a new government and an electoral law, after which elections will be called. Detainees from the recent conflict would also be released, he claimed.
The Syrian President meanwhile expressed interest in a “political solution” to the country’s 22-month crisis, claiming his regime has “not found partners” yet. “Just because we have not found a partner, it does not mean we are not interested in a political solution,” Assad said.
Addressing the assembly to wild applause from supporters, the President called Syria’s rebels “murderous criminals” and foreign jihadi elements, calling on government forces to “protect” the country.
"We have terrorists who follow the ideology of al-Qaeda,” Assad claimed. “We brothers fight against these people. Most of them are not Syrian... We will teach them a lesson.”
Reacting to the speech on al-Jazeera shortly afterwards, Syrian National Council member Louay Safi dismissed Assad’s address as “empty rhetoric.”
“He has shown that he is a dictator that we cannot negotiate with,” Safi said. “I think he has no desire to relinquish power, he wants to crush the opposition.”
President Assad’s last public remarks came in November when he told Russian broadcaster RT he planned to “live and die in Syria.” Previously the Syrian leader last appeared publicly in June last year, demanding his regime put down the alleged foreign insurgency.
The Syrian crisis is now into its 22nd month, amid escalating clashes between the army and armed opposition in provinces across Syria, displacing hundreds of thousands of people and claiming the lives of 60,000 since March 2011, according to the United Nations.