Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has accused the US, Saudia Arabia, Turkey and Qatar of backing “terrorists” trying to overthrow his government.
In an interview on Sunday with Germany’s ARD network, Assad said that he does not fear the same fate as Gaddafi or Mubarak, claiming that he was still in power because he had the support of his people and adding:
"[…] to be scared, you have to compare. Do we have something in common? It's a completely different situation ... You cannot compare."
Assad also claimed that the majority of victims of the uprising, which has been ongoing for 16 months, were government supporters.
"From the list that we have... the highest percentage are people who are killed by gangs, different kinds of gangs ... If you talk about the supporters of the government - the victims from the security and the army - are more than the civilians."
Speaking about his talks with Annan, Assad said:
"[Annan’s peace plan] shouldn't fail. It is a very good plan,
"The main obstacle (is) that many countries don't want (it) to succeed. So they offer political support and they still send armaments and send money to terrorists in Syria. They want it to fail in this way.
"If I don't have a support in the public, how could I stay in this position? United States is against me, the West is against me, many regional powers and countries and the people against me, so, how could I stay in this position?
"The answer is, I still have a public support. How much, what the percentage is - this is not the question, I don't have numbers now."
Describing the Syrian rebel army, Assad said that they are "an amalgam of al Qaeda, other extremists, not necessarily al Qaeda, and outlaws who escaped the police for years, mainly smuggling drugs from Europe to the Gulf area and others who were sentenced in different sentences."
"[Some] were paid the money, sometimes on the threat and sometimes for certain illusions and delusions. So, not all of them are terrorists."
Assad accused the United States of being responsible for “terrorist” actions.
"As long as you offer any kind of support to terrorists, you are a partner. Whether you send them armaments or money or public support, political support in the United Nations, anywhere. Any kind of support, this is implication."
