Assad set to speak on 'elections' and 'constitution' while Syria bloodshed continues

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad will give his first public address since June today as fighting rages in the capital, Al Jazeera reported on Sunday.

According to reports in a Lebanese pro-Assad newspaper, the president will talk about a new constitution for his country and standing for election in 2014.

The speech is expected to happen at 10am GMT on the state television network.

The address comes amid news that the UN has upped its death toll estimate to 60,000, since the revolution began. Both the U.S. and the E.U. have now formally recognized the opposition coalition that stands against President Assad.