Syria's Assad deals blow to US-Russia peace initiative

DAMASCUS: Syria's President Bashar al-Assad dealt a blow to a US-Russian initiative for a peace conference, in an interview aired Monday, saying the factors were not in place for it to be successful.

"No time has been set, and the factors are not yet in place if we want (the initiative dubbed Geneva 2) to succeed," Assad told Lebanese television channel Al-Mayadeen.

"Which forces are taking part? What relation do these forces have with the Syrian people? Do these forces represent the Syrian people, or do they represent the states that invented them?" Assad asked in typically defiant fashion.

In the lengthy interview, Assad also said he was willing to run for re-election in 2014, in remarks that came soon after US Secretary of State John Kerry said that if he were to win, it would extend Syria's civil war.

"Personally, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't run in the next election," he declared. Assad accused Saudi Arabia of conducting the work of the United States in Syria and also demanded that the UN and Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi, stick to his mandate and not follow orders from other countries.

Brahimi is currently on a tour of the Middle East to drum up support for the peace conference.

On Monday in Baghdad the envoy told reporters that all countries "with interests and influence in the Syrian affair must participate" in the Geneva conference.

The veteran troubleshooter has said he will also travel to Qatar, Turkey, Iran, Syria and then Geneva for talks with Russian and US representatives.

A pro-regime daily in Syria said he was expected this week in Damascus, where he came under heavy criticism from the regime for suggesting a transitional government after his last visit in 2012.

In the interview, Assad also denounced as "terrorists" the Muslim Brotherhood movement -- whose members are a main component of Syria's main opposition bloc, the Western- and Arab-backed National Coalition.

"The solution must be a Syrian solution, regardless of whether foreign powers recognise it. It's doesn't matter.

What matters is that the Syrian people recognise it," he said. The Syrian government has been battling to crush a 31-month rebellion triggered by his forces' bloody crackdown on Arab Spring-inspired democracy protests.