Damascus says West trying to impose will on Syrian people

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Syria’s foreign ministry on Tuesday accused Western powers of trying to impose its will on the Syria people following European pressure for a U.N. resolution to rid Syria of chemical arms.

“The United States, France and Britain have revealed their true objective... which is to impose their will on the Syrian people,” the foreign ministry said.

It also condemned the West for “supporting armed terrorist groups linked to the (al-Qaeda-allied) al-Nusra Front,” which has joined the rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad.

The statement from Syria’s foreign ministry comes after Western powers Washington, London and Paris agreed to press a U.N. resolution to ensure the success of a U.S.-Russian plan that would see Syria's chemical arsenal destroyed within the next year.

The U.S. response to the crisis in Syria has been strong, with Secretary of State John Kerry saying:
“If Assad fails to comply with the framework we are all agreed that there will be consequences.”

The Western powers are upping the ante by offering increased Assistance to Syria’s opposition. Syria reacted strongly to this decision.

"Claims by the United States and its allies that they want a political solution for the crisis in Syria... contradict their never-ending attempts... at imposing their conditions, and at supporting groups that practice violence and terrorism in Syria," the foreign ministry said.

"President Bashar al-Assad is the legitimate president, chosen by the Syrian people, and who will stay as long as the Syrian people want," the foreign ministry statement said.

"President Assad is exercising his functions in conformity with the constitution, which was approved by the Syrian people," it added.

Conspiracy theories fueled by the Baathist regime throughout the 30-month conflict have attempted to spread the idea that outside forces that have caused the conflict.

(With AFP)