November 7, 2011 - 09:22 AMT
Assad says Syria’s strong thanks to its people

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday, November 6, said Syria is strong thanks to its people, national choices and independent decision, and it is determined to restore its national rights fully.

Assad's remarks came during his meeting with a number of clan seniors and political, economic and social figures at al-Raqqa Governorate Building after performing Eid al-Adha prayer

"We have no choice left but to win any battle that would target our sovereignty and national decision," he added, DayPress reported.

Meanwhile, according to AFP, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said Sunday it was clear that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was not going to implement an Arab peace plan and there was "nothing more to expect" from his regime.

"I personally think there is nothing more to expect from this regime and that despite its occasional announcements it will not commit to a programme of reforms," Juppe told Europe 1 radio.

"Different initiatives have been taken to try to bring Bashar al-Assad to dialogue. You can see what happened to the last one: Bashar al-Assad accepts the Arab League peace plan and the next day he massacres dozens more people in the streets," he said.

Assad agreed last week to an Arab League peace plan aimed ending a brutal crackdown on opposition protests that the United Nations says has cost more than 3,000 lives since mid-March.