Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, has made his third major speech since the beginning of recent protests in his country. Once again, he said he will consider reforms, and once again, he provided only a vague timetable and few details.

After al-Assad's speech, protesters took to the streets across Syria, dismissing his promises and saying that he had failed to engage their demands. 

So, is it too little too late? Has he run out of options? And what is next for Syria? 

Inside Story, with presenter Jane Dutton, discusses with Anas al-Abdah, the chairman of  the Movement for Justice and Development party and head of the Damascus Declaration Abroad; James Denselow, a Syria analyst at King's College, University of London; and Ahmad Moussalli, a professor of political science at the American University in Beirut.

This episode of Inside Story aired from June 20, 2011.