Syrian Minister Calls for Dialogue to End Crisis

Syria's Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi on Saturday called for a national dialogue to resolve the country's crisis and said the army was fighting to protect the chances for talks.

"The only way to succeed in Syria is to sit down at the table to launch a national dialogue," Zohbi said in an interview with state television.

"The opposition must accept the choice of dialogue and... the army, by facing down terrorism, is protecting this dialogue," he said.

President Bashar Assad's regime consistently refers to the armed rebels fighting against his regime as "terrorists".

Syria's main opposition factions have refused to negotiate with the regime as long as Assad remains in power.

Monitors say more than 37,000 people have been killed in Syria since an uprising against Assad's rule erupted in March 2011 as a protest movement inspired by the Arab Spring before escalating into an armed rebellion.