Assad: Spare no efforts to end Syria war

Fierce fighting broke out between Syrian troops and rebel forces in the suburbs of the capital Damascus yesterday as Turkey issued a stark warning to its neighbour over the downing of a jet last week.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said his country was in “a state of war”, more than a year after the uprising against his rule began.

Addressing his new cabinet, Assad said that all efforts had to be directed towards winning the war.