Assad marks Martyrs Day in Damascus

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad appeared Wednesday at a school in capital Damascus, marking the Martyrs Day, according to the official Syrian TV.

Flanked by tens of people and officers, Assad appeared in the compound of Martyrs' Sons School, a day after media reports rumored his assassination.

"The war of rumors has started again after failing over two years ago," Assad told the gathering.

"I want to be with you because I feel extremely happy when I am around the sons and daughters of martyrs," he said.

A day earlier, media reports claimed that Assad was assassinated by his own bodyguard. The presidential media office quickly denied the claims as "ridiculous."

A huge misleading media campaign has been launched recently by the opposition, following the progress made by the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front.

The Syrian official media, however, scoffed at the repetitive claims, denying them as "baseless."

"We are engaged in a war, not a battle, but tens of battles, and it's normal that there would be attacks and retreats and winning and losses," Assad said, apparently justifying the latest losses of his forces in northern and southern Syria.

"Our trust in you is big and we say to each fighter that our love for you has no limits," the president remarked. Endit