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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.
He said the government's role is to fight these violent militants, protect civilians and restore stability.
Assad did acknowledge that some Syrian's wish to see him gone.
In response, he promised elections in the spring of 2012, and said "the ballot boxes will decide who should be president".
The Sunday Times also said Assad promised to personally fight and die to resist foreign forces.