Assad warns of regional war if West takes military action against Syria

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned Western military strikes will risk igniting a 'regional war'.

He also said France would face repercussions if it takes part in US-led plans for military action against Syria.

The United States is planning to strike the war-torn country in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack by Assad's regime on August 21st, which killed thousands of civilians, including hundreds of children.

In a rare interview with Western media in Damascus, Assad told French newspaper Le Figaro that the Middle East is a powder keg, and the fuse is getting shorter.

According to news.com.au, Assad said that everyone will lose control of the situation once the powder keg explodes. Chaos and extremism will spread. There is a risk of regional war.

Meanwhile, NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen has said he is personally convinced that Assad used chemical weapons last month.

Rasmussen stressed repeatedly that the international community could not allow the use of chemical weapons go by unchallenged, but he was guarded about any military response, the report added.