AFP - Getty Images

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waves at supporters during a rare public appearance in Damascus on Jan. 11 in which he vowed to defeat a "conspiracy" against Syria, a day after he blamed foreign interests for stoking months of deadly violence.

AP reports:

President Bashar Assad joined thousands of his supporters Wednesday in an extremely rare public appearance at a rally in the capital Damascus, telling the crowd he wanted to draw strength from them.

"I belong to this street," he said. "I wanted to be with you so I can draw strength from you in the face of everything that Syria is subjected to. It was important that we maintain our faith in the future. I have that faith in the future and we will undoubtedly triumph over this conspiracy." Read the full story.

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