Syria's interim president, Ahmed Sharaa, said current developments are within "expected challenges,” as clashes continue between forces linked to the new rulers and fighters who support ousted leader Bashar al-Assad.
Sharaa also called for national unity in a video circulated by Arab media on Sunday, which showed him speaking at a mosque.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Saturday that two days of clashes in the country's coastal region have killed more than 1,000 people.
The casualties included 745 civilians, 125 members of the Syrian security forces and 148 fighters loyal to Assad, the Observatory said.
Syria’s state news agency quoted an unnamed Defense Ministry official as saying that government forces have regained control of much of the areas from Assad loyalists. It added that authorities have closed all roads leading to the coastal region “to prevent violations and gradually restore stability.”
Sharaa in a video statement called on Friday on armed groups affiliated with the former government to hand over their weapons and for those loyal to the new government to avoid attacking civilians or abusing prisoners.
“When we compromise our ethics, we reduce ourselves to the same level as our enemy,” he said. “The remnants of the fallen regime are looking for a provocation that will lead to violations behind which they can seek refuge.”
