Syrian FM says foreign strike to create balance of power in Syria...

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Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem said that the second day of a UN inspection team's work had been postponed to Wednesday due to disagreements among the rebels over security arrangements.

He also rejected accusations by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, saying that President Bashar al-Assad's government was not obstructing the work of the UN team.

"Syria will press on with its military efforts despite any potential foreign strikes on its territory," the foreign minister said, adding that any strike would serve the interest of al-Qaeda-linked rebel groups.

"The government's military effort will not stop around Damascus. If the purpose is to limit the victories of our armed forces, they will not be successful," Walid Moualem told a news conference.

The Foreign Minister added that any foreign strike on Syria to try to create a balance of power in the war between President Bashar al-Assad's forces and the rebels is "delusional.”

"If the purpose of a possible foreign military strike is to achieve a balance of power it's delusional and not at all possible," Walid Moualem said.

Moualem added that his country will defend itself using "all means available" in case of a US strike.

“Syria has two choices, either to surrender or fight back and it will choose the latter,” he said, declining to elaborate or say to what specific means he was referring.

On another note, Al-Mouallem described the Syrian-Russian relations as historical relations that date decades back, stressing the importance of the cooperation between the two countries on the political level.

He addressed the Russians saying: “We trust you, but we do not trust the United States that is not seeking a political solution.”

Commenting on the Iranian-Syrian relations, the FM stressed that the Syrian government fully cooperates with Iran on all the fields, noting that Tehran is aware that the events taking place in Syria and Iraq are an implementation to a plan drafted in 2009.

Al-Mouallem also commented on the Saudi stance pointing out “he does not understand how Saudi Arabia supports the anti-Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt and considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization, but supports the terrorists in Syria.”

REUTERS/AP

Syrian FM says foreign strike to create balance of power in Syria "delusional"