President Assad stresses the terrorists role for Syria violence

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has blamed foreign-backed terrorists for almost two years of violence in his country, saying the government forces are only retaliating terrorist attacks.

Assad said in an interview broadcast on German television that the Syrian government did not start the conflict and it is the militants who are killing Syrian people and destroying the country’s infrastructure.
He also rejected claims that Damascus could use chemical weapons against the militants fighting against the government, stressing that those making the claim are trying to exert more pressure on Syria.
The Syrian president also criticized Turkey for its anti-Damascus stance and said Ankara has asked NATO to deploy Patriot missiles on its soil only to portray Syria as a threat.
Assad said his future can only be decided by the Syrian people.