Assad: If I'm toppled, the Middle East will destabilize
Turkish television broadcasts interview with Syrian president, who warns that if his regime is toppled it will stir long-lasting unrest in the Middle East
Assad blamed Turkey for supporting the rebels and argued that Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has been taking advantage of recent developments in the Arab world to promote his personal interest.
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"Erdogan cares about the Muslim Brotherhood, not about the ties between Syria and Turkey. Even Turkey is less interesting to him than is the Muslim Brotherhood," Assad said, adding that "Erdogan has not uttered a single word that was true since the crisis in Syria began."
The Syrian president insisted that if his regime were toppled, "it will have a domino effect on the entire region and bring about an instability that will last for years."
"I am Syria's president elect. The appointment or resignation of a president is a Syrian decision made by the Syrian people, and not by the states that demand such actions."
Assad addressed states that criticized his regime, saying "The United States has stood by Israel's crimes since the latter was founded. It (US) executed massacres in Afghanistan and Iraq; it has killed millions, injured millions and inflicted disabilities on millions. France and Britain executed massacres in Libya with American support."
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