Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal accused Syrian President Bashar Assad of “maneuvering” at a joint news conference following Syrian President Bashar Assad’s declaration that his government is faced with a foreign plot that seeks to destroy Syria.

In a rare televised address, Assad asserted that foreign-backed extremists were behind the 15-month revolt against his rule. He also denied responsibility for the Houla massacre, saying not even “monsters” would carry out such an act.

The exiled Syrian National Council called Assad's speech “desperate and silly.” and al-Faisal said that Assad gave the speech because he was looking to gain time, as countries that have shown to be more sympathetic to Assad's rule, like Russia, investigate the massacre. 

Read the whole story at Voice of America News here and here and at Naharnet here.