Support from Asma Assad

LONDON

The wife of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has broken an 11-month silence with a letter supporting her husband, as Syrian forces bombard the citizens of Homs, daily Telegraph has reported. In an email sent to The Times, which has not been verified by The Telegraph, Mrs al-Assad, 36, wrote that her husband “is the President of Syria, not a faction of Syrians, and the First Lady supports him in that role.” 

The email is said to have continued: “The First Lady’s very busy agenda is still focused on supporting the various charities she has long been involved with and rural development, as well as supporting the President as needed. These days she is equally involved in bridging gaps and encouraging dialogue. She listens to and comforts the families of the victims of the violence.”