Syria's Assad pledges to keep fighting terror

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday pledged to continue the war on terrorist groups until fully eradicating them, noting that any political process that doesn't share the same goal is "meaningless".

Addressing the People Assembly, Assad said the war on Syria was imposed by external powers in coordination and cooperation with the opposition forces on ground.

"I can assure you that our war against terror is ongoing, not because we love war, but because they have imposed war on us, but the bloodletting will not stop until we eradicate terrorism from its roots wherever located and whatever mask it was under," the president said, as his administration has been engaged in fighting ultra-radical groups, including the Islamic State (IS) group and the al-Qaeda-linked Nusra Front in several areas across the country.

Still, the president did not shun aside the efforts for a political settlement in the country.

"This doesn't mean we don't believe in the political process, because we will continue to work for the political process no matter how small its chances of achievements are, emanating from a desire on the public and government levels to bring the bloodshed to a close and salvage the homeland," he said.

He stressed that "but any political process, which doesn't start, continue, and end with ending the terrorism, would be meaningless and pointless."

--IANS

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