Ending Syrian crisis

That Syrian President Bashar Assad's peace initiative was given a cold shoulder by some members of the world community indicates the difficulty in finding a political solution to the crisis in the Middle East country.

On Sunday, Assad delivered his first televised speech since June, offering a three-phase solution to solve the ongoing crisis. It includes a cease-fire, a comprehensive dialogue on a "national charter", and the establishing of a broad-based government and parliament.

It was believed the speech was aimed to boost the morale of those who still support him and to show his government's enthusiasm for solving the country's crisis through political resolutions.