DAMASCUS is a bemused and, in many quarters, angry city this evening. Two weeks of unprecedented protests forced President Bashar Assad to face the nation today. His much-delayed speech had been touted by officials, who predicted moves “beyond expectations” to quell the unrest. Indeed, even critics in Damascus had expected Mr Assad to announce the end to a draconian emergency law in place since 1963, along with reforms that would allow political parties to challenge the dominance of the Ba'ath party regime.

But in a rambling speech, made amid the undignified spectacle of sycophantic interruptions by members of parliament, Mr Assad snubbed the protesters who had originally demanded only economic and political reforms, rather than his ouster. Instead he mimicked the region's other strongmen, blaming the recent unrest on foreign "conspirators" and enemies working to undermine the country's stability. Mr Assad said he recognised that not everyone who went to the streets was part of the conspiracy, but he blamed the demonstrations on provocateurs. Notably absent from his speech were any condolences for the families of those killed during the protests.

While acknowledging the need for reforms, Mr Assad made no concrete offers and laid out no timetable. With his previous concessions accurately denounced as rehashes of old promises, Mr Assad tried to excuse ten years of slow progress by citing the September 11th attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and a drought. But the main takeaway from the president's speech was that he would not be forced into conceding anything.

This is a risky strategy for Mr Assad, who is held up as a reformer by his domestic supporters. They, in turn, blame the delays in reform on the people around the president. But today Mr Assad sent a different message, offering little in the way of change, but stoking the fear of what might replace him. Whether this provokes the protesters or deters them will be seen after prayers on Friday. In an ominous sign for the president, new protests have already been reported in Deraa and Latakia.

(Photo credit: AFP)