Syria's Assad says his country
DAMASCUS. June 27. KAZINFORM Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday that his country is "in a state of a real war," noting that all of the Syrian polices should be directed to win that war, according to state-run SANA news agency.
According to Xinhua, Assad made the remarks in a directive speech to the newly- formed cabinet, in which the embattled leader stressed that "we live a state of real war... all of our policies, directives will be directed in order to gain victory in this war."
"They are legitimate demands for the citizens even though they are greater than capabilities," said Assad, referring to the "war. " "But when we transparently communicate with citizens, the citizens will understand and support us."
Assad's remarks came as the country witnesses a stark escalation of violence and clashes between the government troops and the rebels Free Syrian Army (FSA).
Overnight Monday and after day-break Tuesday, severe clashes broke out in the Damascus' suburbs of Hameh and Qudsaiah between the Syrian troops and armed rebels, in one of the worst fighting so far around Damascus in the 16-months unrest.
Syria's state media said Syrian troops killed and arrested some armed groups in the two suburbs, adding that most of those apprehended were Arabs from outside Syria.
Meanwhile, the opposition Local Coordination Committees said at least 86 people were killed Tuesday nationwide, 33 of whom were allegedly killed by the government troops' shelling on Hameh and other restive suburbs.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a group of activists based in London, put the documented casualties on Tuesday at 38.
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