Assad: Syria crackdown like surgery

Syrian president Bashar Assad has defended his government’s crackdown on opponents, saying a doctor performing emergency surgery does not have blood on his hands if he is trying to save a patient.

In his first speech since January, Mr Assad appeared unmoved by scathing international criticism of his ferocious response to the 15-month-old revolt against his rule, which has left up to 13,000 people dead, according to activists.