Assad Makes Surprise Appearance at Damascus Rally

NNN- Syrian President Bashar Assad, breaking a six-month public silence, made a rare appearance at a rally in Damascus’ Umayyad Square Jan. 11, 2011, vowing to vanquish “foreign conspirators” plotting to end his rule. His remarks followed a speech Jan 10, 2011 in which he mocked the Arab League. The Arab League, which suspended Syria in November for failing to halt its crackdown on protests, has said it was delaying sending more monitors after an attack on one team in the port of Latakia in which 11 observers were lightly injured. The United Nations has said more than 5,000 civilians have been killed in unrest that erupted in March, inspired by Arab revolts elsewhere, while the authorities accuse armed Islamist militants of killing 2,000 members of the security forces. Photo courtesy agencies. ---NNN