Protesters have taken to the streets across Syria to denounce a speech by President Bashar al-Assad, saying his address did not meet popular demands for sweeping political reform…
“People were still hoping he would say something meaningful that would result in tanks and troops leaving the streets. They were disappointed and started going out as soon as Assad finished talking,” one activist in the city said…
Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, urged Assad to take “concrete action” on his promise of political reforms and called on him to halt a violent crackdown on civilians… (more)
