Syria's British first lady urges unity as husband fights protesters

The west London schoolgirl who became first lady of Syria has called for "empowerment in civil society" - just as her husband unleashed his security forces against thousands of pro-democracy protesters.

Asma Assad, who married dictator Bashar Assad in 2000, has told how Syrians should engage in "active citizenship" and urged them to "take shared responsibility (to move) this country forward".

She added: "We all have a stake in this country; it will be what we make it."

Nicknamed the "Desert Rose" and described as having a "trained analytic mind", Mrs Assad told Vogue magazine she wanted to make Syria a "beacon of culture".

Elite forces are cracking down on dissent around the country, trying to quell a week-long rebellion and defuse the latest revolution gripping North Africa and the Middle East.

Mrs Assad's interview came as police fired live rounds and tear gas at up to 4,000 demonstrators in the southern city of Daraa - and as tens of thousands of flag-waving pro-government supporters gathered in a central Damascus square today for a "loyalty to the nation" march backing her husband. Local reports claim hundreds of protesters have been killed. The Syrian regime says 61 people have died.

President Assad succeeded his father in June 2000 amid claims the election was rigged. However, it had been hoped the ascent of the young president and his glamorous wife, now 35, would herald a new era of openness in Syria as they travelled the world meeting Tony and Cherie Blair and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.

Mrs Assad was born in London to a Syrian Harley Street cardiologist and his diplomat wife, grew up in Acton and forged a high-powered City banking career which she quit to marry.