Defiant Assad dismisses talks bid

President Bashar Assad called on Syrians to defend their country against religious extremists seeking to destroy the nation, dismissing any prospect of dialogue with the “murderous criminals” he says are behind the uprising.

As he outlined his vision for a peaceful settlement to the civil war in a one-hour speech to the nation, Assad struck a defiant tone, ignoring international demands for him to step down and saying he is ready to hold a dialogue but only with those “who have not betrayed Syria”.