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| Syria: President Bashar al-Assad addresses nation | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is addressing the nation for the first time in two months, as security forces continue operations against protesters. | |
| The state news agency said Mr Assad would address "current circumstances". | The state news agency said Mr Assad would address "current circumstances". |
| Concessions made during his last televised address have not dampened anti-government demonstrations. | Concessions made during his last televised address have not dampened anti-government demonstrations. |
| Human rights groups estimate that at least 1,300 civilians have been killed and 10,000 detained since the protests began in March. | Human rights groups estimate that at least 1,300 civilians have been killed and 10,000 detained since the protests began in March. |
| More than 300 soldiers and police have also been killed, they say. The government blames "armed terrorist gangs" for their deaths. | More than 300 soldiers and police have also been killed, they say. The government blames "armed terrorist gangs" for their deaths. |
| Meanwhile, thousands of people who fled a military assault in the north-west of the country are now living in refugee camps across the border in Turkey. | Meanwhile, thousands of people who fled a military assault in the north-west of the country are now living in refugee camps across the border in Turkey. |
| Some refugees said the army had cut off the border town of Bdama, which had been providing supplies to those fleeing Jisr al-Shugour. | Some refugees said the army had cut off the border town of Bdama, which had been providing supplies to those fleeing Jisr al-Shugour. |
| 'National Council' | 'National Council' |
| No further information about the contents of Monday's speech has been given. | No further information about the contents of Monday's speech has been given. |
| But Syria's ambassador to the US said his government differentiated between the legitimate demands of protesters and those of armed gangs, and that Mr Assad would deal with "all these issues". | But Syria's ambassador to the US said his government differentiated between the legitimate demands of protesters and those of armed gangs, and that Mr Assad would deal with "all these issues". |
| President Assad's latest speech, his third since the unrest began, takes place a day after opposition activists announced the creation of a body to lead the struggle against the regime. | |
| "We announce the creation of a National Council to lead the Syrian revolution, comprising all communities and representatives of national political forces inside and outside Syria," spokesman Jamil Saib told reporters near the Turkish border, according to the AFP news agency. | "We announce the creation of a National Council to lead the Syrian revolution, comprising all communities and representatives of national political forces inside and outside Syria," spokesman Jamil Saib told reporters near the Turkish border, according to the AFP news agency. |
| The council urged people to "co-operate in all cities and provinces of Syria to achieve the legitimate goal of overthrowing the regime and bring it to justice", Mr Saib added. | The council urged people to "co-operate in all cities and provinces of Syria to achieve the legitimate goal of overthrowing the regime and bring it to justice", Mr Saib added. |
| Also on Sunday, activists said the army had surrounded Bdama - only 2km (1.2 miles) from Turkey - with checkpoints and was stopping people attempting to head for the Turkish border. | Also on Sunday, activists said the army had surrounded Bdama - only 2km (1.2 miles) from Turkey - with checkpoints and was stopping people attempting to head for the Turkish border. |
| Nonetheless, hundreds have managed to escape. | Nonetheless, hundreds have managed to escape. |
| More than 10,000 Syrian refugees have crossed the Turkish border, and Turkish officials say another 10,000 are sheltering on the Syrian side. | More than 10,000 Syrian refugees have crossed the Turkish border, and Turkish officials say another 10,000 are sheltering on the Syrian side. |
| The local Turkish governor's office said some Syrians were collecting food at the border to take to the stranded families. | The local Turkish governor's office said some Syrians were collecting food at the border to take to the stranded families. |
| The governor's office said there was no question of Turkish soldiers crossing into Syria. | The governor's office said there was no question of Turkish soldiers crossing into Syria. |
| Raka al-Abduh, 23, told AFP that his family fled Bdama on Saturday but he went back on Sunday morning to get bread. | Raka al-Abduh, 23, told AFP that his family fled Bdama on Saturday but he went back on Sunday morning to get bread. |
| He reached the village using mountain routes and found it all but abandoned. | He reached the village using mountain routes and found it all but abandoned. |
| "They closed the only bakery there. We cannot get bread any more," he said. "I saw soldiers shooting the owner of the bakery. They hit him in the chest and the leg." | "They closed the only bakery there. We cannot get bread any more," he said. "I saw soldiers shooting the owner of the bakery. They hit him in the chest and the leg." |
| There were also protests overnight in the cities of Hama, Homs, Latakia, Deir al-Zour, Madaya, and several suburbs of Damascus, activists said. | There were also protests overnight in the cities of Hama, Homs, Latakia, Deir al-Zour, Madaya, and several suburbs of Damascus, activists said. |