Assad commends Syrian dedication to resistance

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hailed the steadfastness of the Syrians in thwarting foreign schemes to foment discord in the nation. The Syrian president made the remarks in a meeting with a delegation of cultural, educational, religious and social representatives from the province of Hama on Sunday, Al-Alam reported. During the meeting, Assad hailed the "honorable patriotic position" of the people in Hama, saying citizens in Hama like the citizens of other Syrian provinces "have provided an example of patriotism, credibility and rejection of the attempts at sowing discord among the people of the homeland." Referring to the existing problems in the province, the Syrian president said that they will be considered as soon as possible. The delegation, for its part, reported the measures taken to remove the problems in Hama. Syria has been gripped by deadly violence since March 2011. Over 150,000 people have reportedly been killed and millions displaced due to the violence fueled by the foreign-backed militants. According to reports, the western powers and their regional allies - especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey - are supporting the militants operating inside Syria. A British defense study showed that about 100,000 militants, fragmented into 1,000 groups, are fighting in Syria against the government and people.