Opponents of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad dismissed the leader's speech at an opera house in central Damascus, in which he called for national mobilization in a "war to defend the nation," saying the speech was a weak attempt to cling to power.  

In his first speech to an audience since June of last year, Assad laid out what he described as a peace initiative to end the 21-month conflict. 

Syria's Prime Minister Wael al-Halki called for a cabinet meeting to implement the "national program announced by President Bashar al-Assad yesterday to solve the crisis in Syria", the state news agency SANA said.

But the proposal was rejected by his opponents who said they would not negotiate until Assad is removed or steps down from power, with one opposition group leader saying he saw the speech as a declaration of war, and that the violence and brutality would continue.