Assad Wednesday named a Baath Party stalwart to form a new government, signaling no political concessions to a 15-month-old uprising, as helicopters and tanks pounded rebels near the Mediterranean coast.
The appointment of Riyad Farid Hijab, (...)
Assad's opponents have taken a step toward unity by forming a national council to represent the uprising but have a long way to go until they create a broad-based alternative to his rule.
Six months after protests demanding political freedoms broke (...)
Assad Monday pledged to introduce reforms within months to address a wave of protests against his rule, but blamed saboteurs for the unrest and warned that no deal could be reached with gunmen.
Assad said a national dialogue would start soon to (...)
Assad has tried brute force and political concession, often simultaneously, to quell protests in Syria but neither has halted the uprising and his double-edged tactic may alienate a vital support base.
Since the outbreak of unrest 11 weeks ago, the (...)
