Presidential official says Syria will avoid civil war
A top Syrian official has accused foreign powers of seeking to incite civil war to topple President Bashar Assad's government, but says her country will avoid it.
Syrian presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban on Tuesday defended Assad's military crackdown on protesters, saying it was aimed at curbing armed groups sponsored by foreign parties to create chaos in Syria. Shaaban said the government will "confidently" press ahead with all political reforms, including plans to rewrite the constitution by the year's end and calling for parliamentary elections in February. (AP)
