The Syrian government said Saturday that a year-long revolt to oust President Bashar al-Assad is over, amid reports that its troops are still shelling opposition areas.

In comments cited by the official SANA news agency, foreign ministry spokesman Jihad Makdisi said: "The battle to topple the state is over, and the battle to solidify stability … and move on towards a new Syria has begun."

The government's remarks came as the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights cited 19 deaths in violence across the country on Saturday.

Calls for army withdrawal

Makdisi also said that the army would only pull out of residential areas "once peace and security prevail."

Rebels, however, say they will not cease fire until government forces draw back. A six-point plan put forward by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan and endorsed by Assad also calls on Syrian troops to stop violence and be the first to withdraw forces.

A rebel officer in Damascus said: "When Assad's gangs stop the shelling and killing of civilians, then our leaders can issue an order to stop operations and we will commit to it to show our good intentions."

'Next steps'

Washington and Gulf Arab states have meanwhile urged Annan to set a timeline for further measures if violence goes on despite Syria's nominal acceptance of the plan.

A statement issued after a meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Gulf foreign ministers in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, said: "Given the urgency of the joint envoy's mission, (US and Gulf ministers) urged the joint envoy to determine a timeline for next steps if the killing continues."

At a news conference with Clinton, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal reiterated his country's call for Syria's rebels to be provided with weapons.

"The arming of the opposition is a duty, I think, because it cannot defend itself except with weapons," al-Faisal said.

The meetings in Riyadh come ahead of a "Friends of Syria" forum in Istanbul on Sunday, which is to be attended by ministers from dozens of Arab and Western countries.

Government victories

The United Nations says more than 9,000 people have been killed in the crackdown by government forces on pro-democracy protests.

The Syrian army has recently scored victories over rebel strongholds in the cities of Hama, Homs and Idlib.

Damascus says it has lost about 3,000 security force members.

tj/ipj (AFP, Reuters)