Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed a foreign conspiracy for trying to destabilize Syria, as a mass uprising against his rule continues.

The "external conspiracy is clear to everybody", he said in his first public remarks in months. His violent crackdown on dissent has drawn international condemnation.

He said elections could be held later this year but "terrorism", which he blames for the unrest, would be met with an "iron fist".

"Regional and international sides have tried to destabilize the country," President Assad said in a speech broadcast live nationally from Damascus University.

It was his third televised address since protests against his rule began in March, and lasted nearly two hours.

"Our priority now is to regain security which we basked in for decades, and this can only be achieved by hitting the terrorists with an iron fist," BBC quoted Assad as saying.