Assad calls for national unity against 'criminals'

In an hour-long speech he offered a national reconciliation conference, elections and a new constitution once Westerners stopped arming the rebels fighting his regime.

The opposition National Coalition maintained that he'd have to go before any progress could be made.

In the rare speech Mr Assad blamed "terrorists who carry the ideology of al-Qaida" and "servants who know nothing but the language of slaughter" for the violence. He added that the political solution he offered could not include those elements.

He dismissed the view that the 22-month conflict, which began with peaceful protests for reform, was a popular movement.

"Is this a revolution and are these revolutionaries? By God, I say they are a bunch of criminals," he said.