President Assad makes rare public appearance in Syria

Syria's state-run TV has aired footage of the Syrian president performing Eid prayers in a mosque in Damascus.

It is the first appearance in public by Bashar Assad after a July 18 bombing in Damascus killed the country's defence minister and three other top security officials, including the president's brother-in-law.

Assad prayed at the Hamad Mosque in Damascus at the start of Eid al-Fitr, a three-day holiday marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan.

The last time he appeared in public was on July 4 when when he gave a speech in parliament.