Syrian president says his government will not fall

In an interview on state TV, he said the solution in Syria was a political one, but violence should be dealt with firmly by the security forces.

In an interview that appeared on Sunday, Assad warned that any foreign military intervention would backfire on those who carry it out. "Any action against Syria will have greater consequences than they can tolerate.”

"First, because of Syria's geopolitical location, and second, because of Syrian capabilities," he said, adding that pponents of the regime were increasingly resorting to violence, carrying out attacks on the military, the police and other security forces.

Assad also said that it was US President Barack Obama and other Western leaders who should be standing down because of the blood they had spilled in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya and because of their political, economic and social bankruptcy at home.

The interview was Assad's fourth public appearance since the protests began.

Earlier, a UN team arrived in Syria to assess humanitarian needs, as security forces continue to suppress protesters.

On Friday, at least 40 people were reportedly killed across the country.

The US and several EU members have called on Assad to step down.

Syria's protests first erupted in mid-March. The demonstrators are demanding the removal of President Assad, whose family have been in power for 40 years.

Human rights groups believe that about 2,000 people have been killed and thousands arrested since March.

The government has blamed the unrest on "terrorist groups".

The team has been told it can visit all trouble spots, but analysts are sceptical on how free its movements will be.

Despite recent assurances from the president that the army and police operations against civilians had stopped, activists' accounts and internet video postings indicate nothing much has changed.