“President al-Assad indicated that reform in Syria stems from the conviction of the Syrians and not a response to foreign pressure, affirming that Syria will remain firm and resistant, and will not relinquish its dignity and sovereignty,” the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency reported.

The talk of reform did not halt the steady reports of violence, with the opposition activist group Local Coordination Committees (LCC) of Syria reporting on August 18 a total of 10 dead, eight in Homs, one in Latakia and one in Idlib. The LCC is a coalition of activists who organize and document protests.

Syria's state-run media reported security force pullouts from the western port city of Latakia and the eastern city of Deir Ezzor. But the LCC said they had not left the restive Latakia neighborhood of Ramel.

Anti-government sentiment is strong in Ramel, which also is the home of a Palestinian refugee camp. The camp normally holds 10,000 people, but many people have fled in recent days.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) said on August 18 that it had determined the whereabouts of some 2,000 of the displaced people and was giving them aid.

Meanwhile, the same day the United Nations announced the temporary withdrawal of some staff members amid the violence in Syria.