Assad attacks 'fascist' Erdogan in first speech to new Syria parliament

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad labelled Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan a "fascist" and a "butcher" in an address made to the new parliament on Tuesday, during which Assad also vowed to retake "every inch of Syria" from the opposition. 

“Aleppo will be the grave where all the dreams and hopes of that butcher [Erdogan] will be buried,” Assad said in his speech, referring to what the state-run SANA news agency described as Erdogan's "Muslim Brotherhood Project". 

In his speech, which was broadcast on state television, Assad also congratulated lawmakers on an alleged record turnout during the April general election which was held in government-held areas. 

Since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, millions of Syrians have been internally displaced and millions more have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees. 

The country has since split between government-controlled and opposition areas with the Islamic State group also holding onto swathes of the country. 

During the speech, Assad also appeared to harden his position on UN-sponsored peace talks, saying that Syria will be ruled by a "unity government" - not a "transitional governing body" without Assad as president, a central demand of the opposition.

"We will not agree to any topic outside the statement of principles we presented to the UN. We just won't accept it," Assad told lawmakers.

Assad said he had received no response from the UN regarding this paper and that in the government's eyes, "the negotiations have not actually started".

He was addressing lawmakers for the first time since an April general election in government-controlled areas that was dismissed internationally as a sham.

"The Syrian people surprised the world yet again with an unprecedented voter turnout... and an unprecedented number of candidates," Assad said.

Syria's conflict began in 2011 with protests calling for Assad to step down, and several rounds of UN-backed peace talks have failed to bring an end to what has become a complex civil war.

In February, the United States and government ally Russia brokered a ceasefire between Assad's forces and most non-militant rebels in an effort to bolster the peace negotiations.

The ceasefire has allowed Syria's armed forces to focus on key fronts, Assad said, including the historic city of Palmyra - where government forces backed by Russia defeated the Islamic State group in March.

"As we liberated Palmyra, so shall we liberate every inch of Syria... we have no choice but victory," Assad said to applause from lawmakers.

It was unclear if the speech was broadcast live or pre-recorded earlier this week.

Assad's last address to parliament was in June 2012, just after general elections in May of that year.