Syrian Leader Shuns Reform - Wall Street Journal

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad offered no concrete concessions in a much-anticipated speech to Parliament on Wednesday, and blamed foreign plots for the antigovernment uprisings in the country.

Mr. Assad's televised speech—the first time he addressed the nation since the crisis erupted two weeks ago—set the stage for further confrontation with protesters.

A report on Syrian leader Beshar al-Assad addressing the public in an effort to calm protesters who have flooded the streets. The WSJ reporter interviewed requested anonymity to ensure the safety of himself and his family.

"I'm addressing you during extraordinary events; we are facing a test of our unity," Mr. Assad said at the start of his speech to a room of cheering parliamentarians. "But we will successfully overcome it."

To the surprise of some observers, Mr. Assad failed to offer details and a timetable for a reform plan. He labeled protesters, who are demanding more freedom, reforms and an end to corruption, as "marginalized" and "traitors."

Mr. Assad, a 45-year-old London-educated physician, had been viewed as more open to reform while others in his ruling circle, including his brother and his security chiefs, were seen as taking a harder line as the crisis in Syria deepened over the past two weeks. However, observers said Wednesday that Mr. Assad's speech showed the ruling class was united on staying firm, seeking to normalize the situation and introducing reforms when it sees fit—on the regime's clock, not the opposition's.

"It's clear that the regime doesn't sense any danger anymore," said a Beirut-based political analyst. "They think once they start giving concessions it's an endless path."

Mr. Assad's speech infuriated many Syrians, both opponents of his government and moderates who favor stability but would like to see some meaningful reform.

It remains to be seen whether the opposition, which is stifled inside Syria and whose leadership is in jail, can mobilize the masses. Mr. Assad made it clear in his speech that if there were a battle, he would fight to the end."I would give my blood and soul for Syria," he said.Syrian activist groups have called online for demonstrations across the country Friday in reaction to the speech.Protests in the Arab world typically take place on Fridays, after the noon prayer.

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Incoastal the city of Latakia, several thousand people took to the streets Wednesday after the speech, and clashed with security forces, according to a witness reached by phone. The witness said shots were fired and there were casualties. In the city of Daraa, the center of the antigovernment uprising, people chanted "leave, leave," after the speech, according to a witness's account posted online.

Wissam Tarif, a human-rights activist in Damascus, sent a message on Twitter saying that Mr. Assad "did not address the nation. He addressed the machinery of oppression strengthening it."

Some Syrians said they were offended by Mr. Assad's cheerful demeanor during the speech. He smiled often, laughing and joking about events that have left at least 60 people dead and dozens injured, according to human-rights groups.

The Obama administration said Mr. Assad's speech "fell short" of offering any commitment to initiate real reforms. Some U.S. officials said they worried the Syrian leader was indicating that his government was willing to take increasingly violent steps to snuff out the opposition movement.

"It's clear to us that it didn't have much substance to it," State Department spokesman Mark Toner told reporters Wednesday, adding that he thought the Syrian people would be disappointed.

The Obama administration and Europe have taken a cautious approach to the unrest in Syria. The White House and European governments have condemned the violence, but also made clear they weren't contemplating an intervention like the campaigncurrently under way in Libya.

A number of officials said they were concerned about the type of government that might replace Mr. Assad's.

"What regime would follow?" said a senior European official. "It's not an easy situation."

Mr. Assad devoted a considerable amount of time during the hourlong speech to his theory that Syria is a victim of a sophisticated foreign plot disguised as pro-democracy demonstrations. He also attacked television news channels, saying they distorted facts to spread sectarian unrest. He criticized the U.S., saying it pressured Syria to reform in 2005, and that by invading Iraq it had hoped to spur a domino effect of change in the Middle East, but that the effect was the opposite.

Mr. Assad was interrupted several times during his speech by parliamentarians who stood up and dramatically sang his praise. "You represent not only Syria but the entire Arab world," said one legislator clad in traditional Arabic tribal attire.

Last Thursday, the government said it would lift the emergency law in place for nearly 50 years, increase wages for public workers and open up the media. Mr. Assad said the measures had already been put forth in draft bills and that the government would now debate them. He said the move wasn't a result of pressure, but was due to public awareness about reforms.

"This is very disappointing; worse than I imagined," said one young unemployed man in Damascus. "It reconfirms my suspicions that reforms will not—and cannot—be made by this regime."

—Jay Solomon and Nour Malas contributed to this article.