President Assad has lost all legitimacy and can no longer claim to lead the country.

President Assad does not even need to worry that the army will turn against him under external pressure.

President Assad has the ability to stop the violence.

We should listen with close attention to President Assad's analysis.

President Assad, too, has known the cost of war.

But President Assad has not turned his actions into words.

President Assad, he said, "is the axis around which everything moves."

I feel, somehow, the opportunity is clear also to President Assad.

President Assad gave her the highest of honours in the nation.

President Assad, 37, promised to fight corruption when he inherited the job from his father nearly three years ago.