DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — In a rare public appearance, Syrian President Bashar Assad visited displaced civilians Wednesday in a front-line suburb of the country’s capital, state television reported.

The visit to a shelter for displaced people in Adra, northeast of Damascus, was Assad’s first public appearance outside the capital since August. It comes nearly four months before his seven-year term as president officially expires. Syrian officials say the presidential elections will be held on time.