The party lost its independence from the state and was turned into a tool of the Assad government, which remained based essentially in the security forces.

He further claimed that there was no good reason for the Assad government to resign.

Hezbollah and the Assad government offered tacit support to the plan.

Dialogue with the Assad government is one of the most hotly contested issues, it said.

Each 16-page edition includes coverage of culture, translation from foreign news sources and cartoons that are critical of the Assad government.

Weakening the Assad government, many Syrian and Western analysts here believe, is the point.

A "negotiated settlement" with the implied aim of keeping the Assad government?

Syrian members of the group claim they are only fighting the Assad government and would not attack Western states.

What else are staff inside Damascus doing to try to help those who are trying to deal with the Assad government?

However, he remained a public critic of the Assad government and a supporter of the Palestinian cause.