Syria president blames ‘outside forces’ for crisis

He said the country is passing through its most critical stage since the end of colonialism.

His message was similar to previous speeches,in which he blamed terrorists for the country’s uprising. The revolt began last March.

It’s his first address since the massacre in Syria’s central region of Houla that killed more than 100 people,nearly half of them children. U.N. investigators have said there are strong suspicions that pro-regime gunmen are responsible for at least some of the killings.