London, Jan 7 : Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has slammed the country's rebel organistaion calling them `armed, murderous criminals', and jihadist terrorists groups that are funded from abroad.

Assad, in his first speech after six months, confirmed that he is still in Damascus, and took a hardline stance offering no new concessions to the rebel opposition, which has seized swathes of Syria.

According to the Telegraph, he reiterated calls for a political solution to the crisis, a "national reconciliation conference" and an offer of amnesty, but said he would not negotiate with "enemies of the nation".

His speech was preceded by reports that he would propose a new peace initiative.

Instead, in a rambling delivery, he did not go beyond previous offerings of a new "vision" including negotiations with a patriotic opposition that excluded those he accused of being sponsored by outside forces.

According to the paper, Assad said any political initiative proposed from outside the country would have to respect the Syrian government''s own "vision" and proposals.

He also continued to insist that the rebels are people `carry the Al-Qaeda ideology, and seek to partition Syria and weaken it,' the paper added. (ANI)