Syrian National Council comments on Assad Speech

Syrian President Bashar Assad said on Sunday, his government had nothing to do with the Houla massacre, saying not even "monsters" would carry out such an ugly crime.    

The speech Sunday marked Assad's first comments on the killings. As in other speeches, he insisted terrorists are behind the country's uprising. Assad said that his country was facing a war waged from outside the country and that terrorism was escalating despite political steps including last month's parliamentary election.    

"We are not facing a political problem because if we were this party would put forth a political program. What we are facing is [an attempt] to sow sectarian strife and the tool of this is terrorism," Assad said in a speech to parliament, broadcast on Syrian television.    

"The issue is terrorism. We are facing a real war waged from the outside," he noted.    

"We will continue firmly confronting terrorism, leaving the door open for those who want to return," Assad told parliament. "I urge all those who are still hesitant to do so, to take this step. The state will not take revenge."    

Authorities were prepared to hold dialogue with political opponents who did not have outside backing "or have not participated in terrorism," he added.

Commenting on his speech, Syrian National Council said that Assad's speech promotes continuous bloodshed and is  a declaration for continuous violence in the country.

REUTERS