Assad: Rebels are not revolutionaries, they're terrorists

Syrian President Bashar Assad on Sunday gave his first speech since November and said the rebels fighting to topple his regime are terrorists, not revolutionaries.

"It is a fight between our country and its enemies. It is not a fight for power, it is a fight between the people and the terrorists that are trying to divide the country," Assad said.

"Some people call this a revolution, there is no link between these people, their acts, and a revolution," the Syria president asserted.

"A real revolution is based on a philosophy which aims to improve a country rather than to take it backwards," he added.