West claims on chemicals basically illogical: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says Western claims that Syrian army used chemical weapons are an “insult to common sense”.

Assad told Russian daily Izvestia newspaper on Monday that Syria would never be a “puppet” of the West and said Washington had never succeeded in reaching its political aims through war.

“The comments (accusing the army of using chemical weapons) made by politicians in the West and other countries are an insult to common sense… It is nonsense,” Assad said.

Assad said the United States initiated making accusations against Syria and only later started to look for proof.

He said the frontline in the area where the incident took place was not clear and the Syrian army would have risked killing its own army forces if it used chemical weapons.

“This contradicts elementary logic,” Assad said.

“Such accusations are completely political and the reason for them is a number of victories by the government forces against the terrorists,” he added.

Assad warned Western states to stop interfering in the affairs of other countries and instead “listen to the opinion of the people”.

“If someone is dreaming of making Syria a puppet of the West, then this will not happen.”

“We are an independent state, we will fight against terrorism and we will build relations with whom we want for the good of the Syrian people.”

He warned the United States against attacking Syria saying that Washington’s previous military campaigns in recent years had always fallen short of their aims.

“The United States faces failure just like in all the previous wars they waged, starting with Vietnam and up to our days,” he said.

“America has taken part in many wars but could not once achieve its political goals for which the wars were started. Yes, it is true, the great powers can wage wars but can they win them?” he asked.

Syrian government has been investigating reports of an alleged chemical attack in which the opposition claimed that around 1,300 people were killed and the army was responsible for it.

The Syrian government and army have strongly rejected the claims.

A team sent by the United Nations is also set to investigate the latest claim of chemical weapons use outside Damascus.

Despite killing of at least 100,000 people in the massive foreign-backed insurgency in Syria, US had withheld a military intervention which they claim could be solution that helps people in the country, until a chemical attack was carried out, if any.

Pentagon has moved its naval forces closer to Syria and its chief Chuck Hagel has been affirming readiness to act on Obama’s command.

The war in Syria started in March 2011, when pro-reform protests turned into a massive insurgency following the intervention of Western and regional states.