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| Syria conflict: Bashar al-Assad to give TV address | Syria conflict: Bashar al-Assad to give TV address |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to give a rare speech to the nation, state media say, as he continues to battle an uprising against his rule. | Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is to give a rare speech to the nation, state media say, as he continues to battle an uprising against his rule. |
| The address will cover "the latest developments in Syria and the region", according to the Sana news agency. | The address will cover "the latest developments in Syria and the region", according to the Sana news agency. |
| It comes amid fierce fighting close to the capital, Damascus. | It comes amid fierce fighting close to the capital, Damascus. |
| The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the uprising against President Assad, which began in March 2011. | The UN estimates that more than 60,000 people have been killed in the uprising against President Assad, which began in March 2011. |
| The speech will be Mr Assad's first public address since June. | The speech will be Mr Assad's first public address since June. |
| In an interview with Russian TV in November - his last public comments - he said he would "live and die in Syria". | In an interview with Russian TV in November - his last public comments - he said he would "live and die in Syria". |
| Since then opposition rebels have gained control of swathes of territory in northern Syria, and have formed a more inclusive leadership council which has been recognised by the US and the EU. | Since then opposition rebels have gained control of swathes of territory in northern Syria, and have formed a more inclusive leadership council which has been recognised by the US and the EU. |
| But opposition efforts to gain ground in and around major cities including Damascus have been met by stiff resistance and increasingly destructive air strikes. | But opposition efforts to gain ground in and around major cities including Damascus have been met by stiff resistance and increasingly destructive air strikes. |
| On Saturday the activist Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fierce fighting in Harasta and Daraya, suburbs of Damascus. | |
| Diplomatic attempts to end the conflict in Syria have so far failed. | Diplomatic attempts to end the conflict in Syria have so far failed. |
| UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has been pushing a plan approved at an international conference in June that would create a transitional government. | UN and Arab League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi has been pushing a plan approved at an international conference in June that would create a transitional government. |
| But the plan leaves President Assad's role unclear. The Syrian opposition has insisted that Mr Assad must step down for the conflict to end. | But the plan leaves President Assad's role unclear. The Syrian opposition has insisted that Mr Assad must step down for the conflict to end. |
| Mr Brahimi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a week ago that a negotiated solution was the only option. | Mr Brahimi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a week ago that a negotiated solution was the only option. |