Embattled Syrian president Bashar al-Assad arrives for a much anticipated speech on the state of his war-torn nation.<br/> <br />With Syria seemingly on the brink of civil war, al-Assad blamed "terrorists" and foreign powers for the violence that has wracked the country for the last 15 months.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I just want to say that when we describe this as a matter of terrorism, we are no longer talking about the domestic political framework. We are now facing a real war from outside."<br/> <br />He also denied suggestions that government forces were behind the massacre last week of over 100 men, women and children in the small town of Houla.<br/> <br />But Syrian refugees in Jordan dismissed the speech as empty rhetoric.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED SYRIAN REFUGEE, SAYING:<br/> <br />"He is repeating the same words, conspiracy, armed groups, terrorists from abroad, funding. He did not change anything."<br/> <br />Around 10,000 Syrians have been killed since al-Assad's government launched a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters last year.<br/> <br />Andrew Raven, Reuters
