SYRIA's embattled president, Bashar al-Assad, has told The Sunday Telegraph that international intervention in his country's ongoing internal violence would "cause an earthquake", turning the country into "another Afghanistan". In a rare interview, given to Andrew Gilligan, Assad said: "Syria is the hub now in this region. It is the faultline, and if you play with the ground you will cause an earthquake. "Do you want to see another Afghanistan, or tens of Afghanistans?" The president, who met Gilligan in his home, a "single-story building the size of a largeish suburban bungalow", was bullish, seeing himself as a popular leader who has listened to the complaints of his opponents. "Six days after [the protests began] I commenced reform," he told Gilligan. "People were sceptical that the reforms were an opiate for the people, but when we started announcing the reforms the problems started decreasing… "This is when the tide started to turn. This is when the people started supporting the government." Gilligan notes that Assad's confidence in the support of his own people might seem "delusional" to many observers. He also comments that the death toll of 40 opposition demonstrators killed by Assad's security forces on Friday is the highest since April. The opposition has been energised by the death of Muammar Gaddafi, provoking the Syrian army to – reportedly – shell civilian areas of the key opposition city of Homs yesterday. Assad remained confident in his popularity, however, saying: "I live a normal life. I drive my own car, we have neighbours. "I take my kids to school. That is why I am popular." Gilligan notes that - according to the UN - 3,000 demonstrators have been killed by Assad's security forces since March - including 187 children. Read the full report at The Sunday TelegraphBashar al-Assad: West could provoke Syrian 'earthquake'
Monday, 31 October 2011
Posts
