Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Photo: Roosewelt Pinheiro/ABr.

CNN – Syrian President Bashar al-Assad stood firm Sunday against global calls for him to step down, insisting that his vision should be the foundation of any future solution to the country’s crisis.

In a rare public speech, al-Assad lambasted those who want to “fragment Syria” and accused foreigners of helping fuel terrorism on the ground.

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