Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus city January 25, 2012. Russia said on Wednesday it remained opposed to sanctions against Syria and signalled no change in its stance over the government's crackdown on protesters seeking an end to President Bashar al-Assad's rule. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus January 20, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus January 20, 2012. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus January 25, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in front of the Syria central bank in Damascus city January 20, 2012. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Portraits of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad are hung at the venue of a rally by his supporters in Damascus January 25, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus January 20, 2012. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

A portrait of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad is seen on the back of a supporter during a rally in Damascus January 25, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad attend a rally in Damascus January 20, 2012. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A protester holds up a picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a protest in front of the the U.N. headquarters in Beirut, January 13, 2012, against U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's visit to Lebanon. The protest was organised by Lebanese and Palestinians activists and Syrian supporters of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad. Ban arrived in Lebanon on Friday to discuss attacks on U.N. peacekeepers in the south, a U.N.-backed tribunal that has indicted Hezbollah men over Rafik al-Hariri's killing, and the fallout of a revolt in neighbouring Syria. REUTERS/ Sharif Karim (LEBANON - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A photo taken from a helicopter shows supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's gathering during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed. REUTERS/Wael Hmidan (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A photo taken from a helicopter shows supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's gathering during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed. REUTERS/Wael Hmidan (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A larger banner of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad hangs from central bank during a rally of his supporters at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wave Syrian flags and an Iranian flag and hold pictures of al-Assad during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's sign a large Russian flag during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed. . Russia and China have blocked Western efforts seeking U.N. action against Damascus.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's sign a large Russian flag during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed. . Russia and China have blocked Western efforts seeking U.N. action against Damascus.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's sign a Chinese flag during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed. . Russia and China have blocked Western efforts seeking U.N. action against Damascus.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's hold pictures of al-Assad during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's gather during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's gather during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wave flags and hold pictures of him during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wave flags and hold pictures of him during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's wave flags and hold pictures of him during a rally at al-Sabaa Bahrat square in Damascus October 12, 2011. Tens of thousands of Syrians demonstrated in central Damascus on Wednesday in show of support for al-Assad, who is battling a six-month uprising against his rule in which the United Nations says 2,900 people have been killed.
REUTERS/ Khaled al-Hariri (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A Jordanian supporter of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad holds his picture as she shouts slogans against Turkey's Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan during a protest against Turkish intervention in the Syrian situation, in front of the Turkish Embassy in Amman October 9, 2011. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (JORDAN - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A woman carries a poster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on his birthday in Damascus September 11, 2011. REUTERS/ Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS) 

A government loyalists holds up a picture of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Syrian government loyalists hold up pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad while on their way to protest in front of the French embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Syrian government loyalists hold up placards of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a protest outside the French embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A Syrian government loyalist holds up a placard during a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

A car is covered with pictures of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a protest by Syrian government loyalists outside the U.S. embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) 

Syrian government loyalists hold up placards during a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Damascus July 11, 2011. The U.N. Security Council on Tuesday condemned "in the strongest terms" this week's attacks by demonstrators against the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus. Picture taken July 11, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer (SYRIA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)