Assad: Without Me, Syria Faces Increased Ethnic Division And Islamization -- Haaretz
In a rare interview, Syria's President Bashar Assad threatens that the war supported by Arab states who are allies of the U.S. and Israel will spread to neighboring Jordan. If he steps down, he argues, al-Qaida will step up.
"There is no option but victory. Otherwise it will be the end of Syria," Syrian president Bashar Assad said Wednesday in a rare interview that was interpreted by the Arab press as a prepared speech – since the Syrian president was obviously prepared for all questions. Assad warned that the toppling of his regime would lead to Syria being divided into cantons based on ethnic borders. The interview came shortly after one of the leading rebel factors, Jabhat al-Nusra, declared it was loyal to al-Qaida.
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More News ON Syria's Civil War
Syria Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Syria crisis: Assad accuses west of supporting al-Qaida - Thursday 18 April 2013 -- The Guardian
Syria rebels 'capture' Homs army base -- Al Jazeera
Syrian rebels capture army base in Homs province near Lebanese border, activists say. -- Washington Post/AP
Syria rebels claim strategic airbase -- News.com.au
Tensions build on Israel-Syria border -- Washington Post
Assad Frames Syrian Struggle as Him Against Western Colonizers -- New York Times
Assad says West will pay for backing al-Qaida in Syria -- Reuters
Assad Accuses West of Backing Al-Qaeda in Syria -- Time/AP
Al-Assad to Western nations: Syrian rebels will turn on you -- CNN
UN: Syria bars entry of chemical weapons team -- Stars and Stripes
UK: ‘Increasingly concerned’ that evidence will show the use of chemical weapons in Syria -- Washington Post/AP
Syria conflict: UK concerns over chemical weapon use -- BBC
UK Finds Proof of Use of Chemical Weapons in Syria -- Arutz Sheva
Syria dismisses “unfounded” British report on chemical weapons -- Al Arabiya
United Nations says Syria conflict a humanitarian catastrophe -- Reuters
Syria: with aid efforts dramatically hobbled, UN officials call on Council to act -- UN News Centre
Syria’s forgotten casualties: The chronically ill -- Globe and Mail
Syria Opposition Concerned Over Nusra, Al-Qaeda Links -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Al Qaeda adds urgency to search for Syrian peace -- Reuters
Top Obama Officials Differ on Syrian Rebels in Testimony to Congress -- New York Times
Hagel, Dempsey Warn of Involvement in Syria -- ABC News
US Mulls Military Intervention in Syria -- Arutz Sheva
Russian Foreign Minister Tells West, ‘Don’t Isolate Assad’ -- New York Times/Reuters
Moroccon diplomant 'leading candidate' to succeed Brahimi as Syria envoy -- Al Arabiya
Blogger Who Traced Flow of Arms to Syria Through YouTube Seeks Crowdfunding -- The Lede/New York Times
Syria's Christian Minority Lives in Fear of Kidnapping and Street Battles -- Danny Gold, The Atlantic
The Dangerous Price of Ignoring Syria -- Vali Nasr, New York Times
Another reason for U.S. to act on Syria: Sending message to Iran -- Doyle McManus, L.A. Times
It's Time to Act in Syria -- Dennis Ross, Foreign Policy