Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - 10:26am
NBC News — Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad tuesday blamed foreign influences for a 10 month old popular uprising in his country. In a long winded, multi-hour speech, Assad vowed to strike back at what he called terrorists with an iron fist.
Tuesday's speech was the first time Assad has addressed the public since June. The United Nations says more than 5000 people have been killed by security forces trying to suppress anti-government demonstrators.