Assad calls for fight against terrorist movements

Syrian President Bashar Assad stressed Sunday the need to stand firmly against terrorist and Takfiri movements and to form an international alliance to end terrorism and an Islamic alliance to end Wahhabism, which is the root of the problem between sects and religions.

Assad made his remarks during a meeting with a Russian delegation including deputies and religious and social figures.

On another note, the Media Office at the Syrian Presidency reported on Sunday that what the Russian Interfax news agency reported and ascribed to President Bashar al-Assad is inaccurate, stressing that Assad did not give an interview to the agency.

Earlier, the Russian agency Interfax reported that Syrian President Assad said in Damascus on Sunday he has no intention of giving up power and the issue is not up for discussion.

"If we wanted to give up, we would have done so at the very beginning. We are on guard for our country. This issue is not up for discussion," he was reported as telling visiting Russian Parliamentarians days ahead of an internationally sponsored peace conference on Syria.


REUTERS/LBCI