(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)<br/> Speaking with UK newspaper The Sunday Times, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad blamed thousands of deaths in the country on militants, and said demonstrations have been anything but peaceful.<br/> He said the government's role is to fight these violent militants, protect civilians and restore stability.<br/> Assad did acknowledge that some Syrian's wish to see him gone.<br/> In response, he promised elections in the spring of 2012, and said "the ballot boxes will decide who should be president".<br/> The Sunday Times also said Assad promised to personally fight and die to resist foreign forces.
