Bashar al-Assad says 'Syria in state of war'

Damascus, June 27 (ANI): Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said his country was in a state of war and ordered his new cabinet to crush the anti-regime uprising.

"When one is in a state of war, all our policies and capabilities must be used to secure victory," the state-run media quoted Assad, as saying.

Assad's remarks came as rebel forces clashed with the military in the suburbs of Damascus and Turkey toughened the rules of engagement for its troops on the countries' shared border, the Telegraph reports.

His elite Republican Guard troops were involved in fierce clashes with rebel troops near Damascus, in a day of fighting that reportedly left 116 people dead across Syria.

Meanwhile, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan risked an escalating confrontation as he slammed Syria for the 'heinous act' of shooting down the F-4 Phantom fighter jet last week.

This incident deepened antagonism between the two countries, who have been bitter foes since the onset of the revolt against Assad's regime. (ANI)