'Election results prove Syrian people support government reforms'

Speaking to Russia's Rossia-24 state news channel, Assad said on Wednesday that the high turnout in last week’s elections confirmed that his government still enjoys the public support and that terrorists' threats failed to prevent Syrians from expressing support for what they believe in.

Syria's election commission said on Tuesday that more than half of the eligible voters participated in the May 7 parliamentary elections, which were held under a new constitution that paved the way for a multiparty system in the country. Official figures show turnout was 51% for the polls.

The Syrian president also said that government forces have captured many foreign “mercenaries” who were assisting armed anti-government groups and that Damascus is ready to reveal their identities.

“There are foreign mercenaries, some of them still alive. They are being detained and we are preparing to show them to the world.”

Assad also accused the West of turning a blind eye to atrocities committed by armed groups in Syria. He warned certain unnamed countries against creating “chaos” inside the country.

“For the leaders of these countries, it is becoming clear that this is not ‘spring’ but chaos. If you sow chaos in Syria you may be infected by it yourself, and they understand this perfectly well.”

Meanwhile, a team of UN observers whose convoy was attacked in the restive Idlib Province on Tuesday was rescued.

None of the observers was injured in the violence in Khan Sheikhoun. Some unconfirmed reports, however, claim at least 20 people were killed in the attack.

According to UN spokesman Hassan Seklawi the observers continue to monitor Syria ceasefire, which was declared on April 12.

The ceasefire is part of a six-point peace plan presented by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan in March. There are currently 212 unarmed military observers and 68 civilian staff working for the UN Supervision Mission in Syria (UNSMIS) in the country.

Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011. While the West and the Syrian opposition say the government is responsible for the killings, Damascus blames “outlaws, saboteurs and armed terrorist groups” for the unrest, insisting that it is being orchestrated from abroad.