Fate of Syria at stake - Assad
The conflict raging on Syria's streets between government forces and rebels will decide the fate of the nation, President Assad warns.1 August 2012 Last updated at 11:06 GMT
Syria conflict: Fate of nation at stake, says Assad
Bashar al-Assad called his forces "heroic"
The
conflict between rebels and government forces across Syria will decide
the fate of the nation, President Bashar al-Assad has warned.
In a written statement marking armed forces day, he praised soldiers for confronting "armed terrorist gangs".The anti-regime uprising has in recent weeks seen fighting on the streets of the capital Damascus and the second city Aleppo.
Activists estimate some 20,000 people have died since March last year.
The latest reports suggest fighting has broken out for the first time near two Christian areas in the Old City of Damascus.
In Aleppo, state media said government troops had inflicted heavy losses on the rebels and were mopping up remnants of terrorist groups.
But activists and reporters on the ground said rebels appeared to still have control over large parts of the city.
The BBC's Jim Muir in neighbouring Lebanon says the rebels have reportedly been receiving shoulder-firing anti-aircraft guns from across the border in Turkey.
He says this may further diminish the ability of government forces to regain control of Aleppo.
Mr Assad has not spoken in public for two weeks, but issued a statement to mark armed forces day.
"The fate of our people and our nation, past, present and future, depends on this battle," the statement said.
He praised the armed forces as "heroic" and described them as the defender of "just causes" in the statement, which was published in an army magazine and reported by state news agency Sana.
Reinforcements Meanwhile, Amnesty International says in a report that government forces committed crimes against humanity this month in the second city, Aleppo.
In the report, based on research carried out in May, the rights group appealed to the UN Security Council to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court and impose an arms embargo on the country.
Amnesty accuses security forces and pro-government militiamen, known as shabiha, of firing on peaceful protesters and bystanders, including children. It also says medical teams were targeted and those arrested were often tortured.
In Aleppo, rebel sources say fighter jets and helicopters have been pounding rebel positions.
Activists have also told the BBC that a large military column is heading towards Aleppo to reinforce the army units engaging the rebels. However, this has not been confirmed by the government or independent sources.
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