Syria conflict: Al-Assad vows to retake country

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said that he intends to retake "the whole country".

In a rare interview on Thursday, he told AFP news agency that defeating rebels could take some time because of the involvement of regional powers.

World powers have agreed to push for a cessation of hostilities in a week's time.

The UN says it hopes to start delivering aid to some besieged areas in Syria within the next 24 hours.