USA / FILE: Syrian opposition spokesman says Damascus bombing is "a turning point" for President Bashar al-Assad's government

Record ID: 276404

  • Title: USA / FILE: Syrian opposition spokesman says Damascus bombing is "a turning point" for President Bashar al-Assad's government
  • Date: 18th July 2012
  • Summary: WASHINGTON D.C. UNITED STATES (JULY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) RADWAN ZIADEH, FOREIGN RELATION OFFICER, SYRIAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, SAYING: "I'm afraid, of course, of Assad's revenge. He has used all types of weapons against the Syrian people. There are reports that he used weapons of mass destruction. We know that these are banned under international law, and
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Syrian Arab Republic, Usa
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7V02PDYK1F5XI3B0U7J40HF3R
  • Story Text: A bombing that killed three of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's top military advisors on Wednesday (July 18) is "the beginning of the end of the Assad regime," the foreign relation officer of the opposition Syrian National Council said.
    The SNC's Radwan Ziadeh told Reuters in an interview in Washington that the Damascus bombing was also "a turning point" in the 16-month rebellion.
    "The beginning of the end of the Assad regime," he said. "But how that will take (place), take time, how that will end. Bashar al- Assad will decide to go, to leave Syria or will fight to the end? Nobody knows. But its clear that his top advisors, his top leaders in the regime been killed, and this has never happened in the history."
    "This will be tipping point," Ziadeh added. "Because the Assad regime will know that he is, will be fighting till the end."
    The bomb killed Assad's powerful brother-in-law, Assef Shawkat, the defense minister Daoud Rajha and a top general, bringing the battle to the heart of Assad's powerbase and sparking fighting across Damascus.
    "Of course huge blow for many things," Ziadeh said, adding that "Assad's days are numbered.
    Ziadeh said he did not share fears among some western leaders that Assad's fall would ignite sectarian conflict in the country.
    "I am confident that they are capable of building their country and democracy-- that they paid for with a very high price," he said.
    A security source said the bomber was a bodyguard entrusted with protecting the closest members of Assad's circle. State television said it was a suicide bomb. Two anti-Assad groups claimed responsibility. The government vowed to retaliate, and residents said army helicopters fired machine guns and in some cases rockets at several residential districts.
    Ziadeh said he ws very concerned about the Assad government's retaliation, especially given their record.
    "I'm afraid of course of Assad's revenge, he has used all types of weapons against the Syrian people," he said. "The regime has used all the internationally banned weapons against its own people. So, I don't think he will hesitate to use chemical or biological weapons as retaliation for what happened today."
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