Assad: Risk of regional war if West strikes Syria

Says both US and France have been unable to prove their allegations that Damascus used chemical weapons

Syria's president warned today that the Middle East is a "powder keg" and potential Western military strikes against his country risk triggering a regional war.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Bashar Assad was also quoted as saying that Syria has challenged the US and France to provide proof to support their allegations that Damascus has used chemical weapons. He said the leaders of both countries "have been incapable of doing that, including before their own peoples."

President Barack Obama and his French counterpart, Francois Hollande, have accused Assad's regime of carrying out a deadly chemical attack against rebel-held suburbs of Damascus on August 21. The Syrian government denies the allegations, and blames opposition fighters.

Obama initially seemed poised to launch military action, but abruptly announced on Saturday he would first ask Congress for authorisation. Hollande also has called for a forceful response against Assad, but is awaiting a decision from Washington first.

If the US and France decide to strike, Assad said "everyone will lose control of the situation."

"Chaos and extremism will spread. The risk of a regional war exists," he added.

Asked whether France has become an enemy of Syria, Assad said that whoever contributes "financially and militarily to terrorists is an enemy of the Syrian people."

"The French people are not our enemy, but the policy of their government is hostile to the Syrian people. Insofar as French government policy is hostile to the Syrian people, this state will be its enemy," he said.