ISTANBUL: The Syrian National Council (SNC) branded Tuesday's speech by President Bashar al-Assad an "incitement to violence," indicating "more criminal behaviour" by the regime.

"There is incitement to violence, incitement to civil strife, some talks about sectarian divisions which the regime itself has fomented and encouraged," said Basma Qadmani, a member of the SNC, the largest opposition umbrella group.

In a speech lasting almost two hours, Assad blamed foreign plotters for 10 months of protests against his regime and said his government would tackle terrorism with an "iron fist".

"Our concern today is that such a speech is quite indicative of the total dismissal by the regime of the international community," Qadmani said at a press conference in Istanbul.

"And that is an indication that we are going in the direction of more irresponsible and more criminal behaviour by the regime in the coming days and weeks."

Qadmani also said Assad's speech indicated that the regime "is breaking up with the Arab League," which has sent observers to Syria in a bid to try to halt the bloodshed that the UN says has killed over 5,000 people.

"This is a turning point, a rupture with its Arab environment," she added in remarks in English.