Assad accuses West of backing Al Qaeda in Syria
Reuters
2013-04-18
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From Damascus, a Syrian family watches on as President Bashar al-Assad gives a defiant televised interview.
In the Wednesday interview, Assad accused the West of supporting al Qaeda militants in Syria's civil war.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING:
"As they supported al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the early stages and later paid a dear price for it; they are now supporting it in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price later -- in the heart of Europe and the United States."
He was speaking a week after Syria's rebel al-Nusra Front, one of the most effective rebel forces battling his troops, formally pledged allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
The United States has designated the Nusra Front a terrorist organization and has sought to bolster rival rebel forces.
The conflict in Syria, now in its third year, started with mainly peaceful demonstrations but has descended into a bloody civil war.
(
In the Wednesday interview, Assad accused the West of supporting al Qaeda militants in Syria's civil war.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SAYING:
"As they supported al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in the early stages and later paid a dear price for it; they are now supporting it in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price later -- in the heart of Europe and the United States."
He was speaking a week after Syria's rebel al-Nusra Front, one of the most effective rebel forces battling his troops, formally pledged allegiance to al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
The United States has designated the Nusra Front a terrorist organization and has sought to bolster rival rebel forces.
The conflict in Syria, now in its third year, started with mainly peaceful demonstrations but has descended into a bloody civil war.
(
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