Syria’s Assad to make public speech

PanARMENIAN.Net - Syria's embattled President will give his first speech Tuesday, Jan 10, since he agreed last month to an Arab League plan to halt the government's crackdown on dissent.

State-run media say Bashar al-Assad will talk about "domestic issues" and regional developments, The Associated Press reported.

Assad has made few public appearances since the anti-government uprising began in March, inspired by the revolutions sweeping the Arab world. The regime's crackdown on dissent has killed thousands and led to international isolation and sanctions.

Syria's conflict has turned increasingly violent in recent months as army defectors turn their weapons on the regime and some protesters take up arms to protect themselves.

Syria agreed in December to the Arab-brokered plan that calls for an end to the military crackdown on protesters, but killings have continued.

About 165 Arab League monitors are in Syria to determine whether the regime is abiding by the plan to stop violence and pull heavy weapons out of the cities.

The UN estimated several weeks ago that more than 5,000 people have been killed since March. Since that report, opposition activists say hundreds more have died.