Syrian President: ‘Europe Cannot Be Safe’ as Long as Conflict Continues
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ABC News/Rob Wallace(ISTANBUL) — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad warned Friday that the conflict in his country is not limited to its borders and Europe should prepare for potential terror attacks.
Speaking with Swedish television from the Syrian capital Damascus, al-Assad issued an ominous prediction.
“As long as the backyard of Europe, especially the Mediterranean and Northern Africa, is in chaos and full of terrorists, Europe cannot be safe,” he said.
Al-Assad also criticized European officials for their supposed admiration of Saudi Arabia and Qatar “just for their money.”
His remarks follow a report that the death toll from fighting in Syria has exceeded 220,000.
The violence there began shortly after March 2011 demonstrations that evolved into armed revolt against Syrian regime forces. Since then, the emergence of hardline extremist groups like the Islamic State and Al Nusra Front have taken over large portions of the country.
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