Syrian Leader Addresses Nation

摘要

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s firstspeech in months on Monday acknowledgedthe need to accelerate political reform andbuild bridges with parts of his diverse coun-try, but promised no letup in the government campaign to crush “conspiratorsand terrorists.”Syria will hold consultative talks in thecoming days to establish the framework fora national dialogue that will seek to involveall members of Syrian society, he told atelevised event at Damascus University.Another committee will be set up to drafta new election law and create legislationto combat corruption.