DAMASCUS: President Bashar al-Assad said Wednesday Syria faced a test of unity that was the result of a conspiracy that had taken advantage of legitimate demands, in a speech following unprecedented protests.
"I know that the Syrian people have been awaiting this speech since last week, but I was waiting to get the full picture... to avoid giving an emotional address that would put the people at ease but have no real effect, at a time when our enemies are targeting Syria," Assad said.
Assad, who warned Syria was going through a "test of unity," said his country's enemies had taken advantage of the needs of the people to incite strife.
"This conspiracy is different in shape and timing from what is going on in the Arab world," he said.
"Syria is not isolated from the region... but we are not a copy of other countries.
"We are all for reform. That is the duty of the state. But we are not for strife," said the Syrian leader.
Assad is expected to elaborate on a string of reforms announced last week, which came in response to two weeks of increasingly violent protests demanding reform and more freedoms in the country ruled by the Baath party for nearly 50 years.
Syria has also decided to lift emergency rule, in place since 1963, presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban told AFP on Sunday.
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