Damascus, December 16
Deposed Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad said he had no plans to leave his country after rebel fighters overthrew his government a week ago, but the Russian military drove them out after an attack on a Russian base in western Syria. This is Assad’s first comment after being ousted from power by rebels. Assad said in a statement on his Facebook page that he left Damascus on the morning of December 8 after rebel fighters entered the capital. Meanwhile, he was in constant contact with the Russian partners present at the Russian base in Latakia. They had planned to fight from this base, but after drone attacks on the base camp, Russia decided to shift them to Moscow on the night of December 8. “I did not leave the country under any plan, as the reports are claiming,” Assad said.
