Assad Makes Rare Public Appearance

Syrian President Bashar Assad visited a Damascus power station on May Day Wednesday in a rare public appearance, according to the regime’s television station.

The television station showed Assad speaking to workers and shaking their hands,

He has tried to show Syrians that all is “business as usual” despite the bloody civil war and charges that he has used chemical weapons against citizens.

Government media disseminate daily reports of Syrian army victories over “foreign terrorists,” whom the regime accuses of using chemical weapons.