Syrian President Bashar Assad said that he is not directly responsible for acts of violence committed by his security forces and denies reports of torture by the Syrian army, adding that acts of violence were carried out by "individuals," and not ordered by the Syrian government. The situation in Syria has grown increasingly chaotic in the last few months as security forces have been accused of firing live rounds on peaceful protests, Syrian soldiers and intelligence officers have defected, some of whom have helped form the Free Syrian Army " to support the opposition. The death toll in the embattled country has risen above 4,000 people according to the United Nations. Assad, has dismissed that figure, and questions the UN's credibility.