Assad to Army: Step Up the Fight

The long time strong man of Syria is trying to get a grip on a country in revolt

In a statement to the army, President Bashar Assad urged his armed forces to step up the fight against rebels as a 17-month-old uprising continues to rage across the country.

Assad has not spoken publicly since a bombing killed four of his top security aides two weeks ago. Wednesday's written statement was carried by the state-run news agency.