Assad's wife 'defends Syria crackdown'
UK: The British-born wife of Syria's president has spoken in support
of her husband for the first time since the 11-month uprising against
his regime began, a British newspaper reported Tuesday.
"The President is the President of Syria, not a faction of Syrians,
and the First Lady supports him in that role," The Times quoted Asma
al-Assad as saying in an email sent via an intermediary from her office.
The email is her first communication with the international media
since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad's regime began, The Times
said.
"The First Lady's very busy agenda is still focused on supporting the
various charities she has long been involved with and rural development
as well as supporting the President as needed," the email reportedly
continued.
"These days she is equally involved in bridging gaps and encouraging
dialogue. She listens to and comforts the families of the victims of the
violence." it added.
The statement came after Syrian forces pounded protest hubs with
rockets and shells, killing 79 civilians on Monday, according to
activists, and as Britain recalled its ambassador to Syria "for
consultations".
Unlike her husband, a minority Alawite, the 36-year-old First Lady is
a Sunni Muslim who originally hails fromHoms -- the central Syrian city
rocked by some of the worst carnage since the revolt began in March last
year. Stylish and charismatic and with a degree from King's College in
London where she was raised, the former investment banker had helped
promote the soft side of an iron-fisted regime.
But she has virtually disappeared from the public eye since the
revolt broke out and had drawn criticism for her silence on a crisis
that has left more than 5,000 people dead in her country.
Last month she appeared with two of her children to support her
husband of 12 years as he spoke at a pro-regime rally, but did not speak
herself.
AFP
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