Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Photo: AFP

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has refused to consider resigning or leaving his country in an interview which appeared in the British newspaper Sunday Times. Assad offered to hold talks with the rebels on the condition they lay down their arms, but made a distinction between the "political entities" he would talk with and "armed terrorists". Assad dismissed suggestions that his departure might end the civil war which has lasted for two years. He denied that Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah have sent soldiers to Syria.