Bashar Assad: I will "live and die" in Syria

Syrian President Bashar Assad in the Hamad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, Aug. 19, 2012. / AP/SANA

Beirut Syria's embattled President Bashar Assad says he will not leave his country.

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Syrian president says he will not leave country

In an interview with Russia TV, Assad said he will "live and die" in Syria.

Speaking hypothetically about Western military action to help Syrian rebels oust him, Assad told the Russia Today network, "the price of this invasion, if it happens, is going to be more than the whole world can afford."

He went on to describe Syria as, "the last stronghold of secularism and stability in the region."

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His comments come two days after British Prime Minister David Cameron suggested that Assad could be allowed safe passage out of the country if that would guarantee an end to the nation's civil war.

Assad spoke in English with Russia Today TV. Excerpts of the interview were posted on the TV station's website on Thursday, with an Arabic voiceover.

Assad says he is not a puppet of the West.

He says: "I am Syrian, made in Syria, and I will live and die in Syria."

[Bush-cheney-R-Terrorists]

As you wish Basher, fire!

[rufusrasrasjohnsbrown]

Ceausescu moment coming up Bashar.Hopefully Asma will be at your side.

[quincytodd]

I agree with Bashar al-Assad. Who are we to say he cannot stay in power and who are we to decide Syria's future? Only a weak minded Tea Partier would say that we have a right to dictate to the Syrians through our own arrogance and self-righteousness!

[audemus]

Insha'Allah....so be it.

[mandiegracetaylor]

When a communist commander in Greece invaded a village - he summarily shot every woman left in the village who stood up to him because all the men and young boys fled for the mountains. When one five year boy watched his mother get shot, he vowed even then to hunt down that commander - when he finally found him in a dilapated apartment in Athens enjoying the rewards of his government's retirement plan, the boy turned young man held a gun to his head and said, "why did you kill my mother - she wasn't a soldier - she simply disagreed with you!" The old man looked up and said, "There are no Civilians in a civil war." History may finally dispatch and view Assad through the same lense. This is how Assad currently sees himself and anyone who disagrees with himself.

[In2theDark]

Assad is at a point of no return. If he left he would be mot likely tried for human rights violations and other related war crimes. Either way he's dead.

[akibeel]

Die today please.

[aubfmet]

Is he a Democrat or is he a Republican?

[takacrat]

Both, all packed in one Tie an Jacket!

[HM8432]

Bashar Assad: I will "live and die" in Syria!

Your wish is our command! But it'll be messy...

[john92021]

there is no way of stopping these people from killing each other. Even if Asad is gone the tribes will clash for territory and power.

[takacrat]

Plus pointing to the stars and chanting Allah! Allah! Allah!