TENS of thousands of Syrians thronged a main square of the Syrian capital and nearby streets yesterday in a huge show of support for embattled President Bashar Assad, as he struggles to quell a seven-month-old uprising. Opponents charge such rallies are staged by the regime.

Tens of thousands of Syrians have packed into a main square of the capital Damascus in a show of support for President Bashar Assad, as he struggles to quell a seven-month-old uprising.