Syria’s president Bashar Assad has said he will respond to threats against him with an “iron hand” and refused to step down, despite the 10-month-old uprising against him.

Syria's two largest opposition groups have signed an agreement on setting up a democracy after President Bashar Assad's regime falls, opposition figures said today.

Supporters of President Bashar Assad stoned the convoy of the US ambassador to Syria as he arrived for a meeting with a leading opposition figure today.

Syria’s embattled president said today he would consider political reforms, but Bashar Assad gave no sign he might step down, the key demand of nationwide protests.