Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the United States and Saudi Arabia wanted "terrorist groups" to join peace talks proposed by world powers, and that nobody in Syria would accept such talks, in an interview transcript published by state media.
"Whenever they want to change their approach, give up the armaments, we are ready, while to deal with them as a political entity, this is something we completely refuse," he said in response to another question about whether he would be willing to negotiate with opposition groups that met in Riyadh this week.
Asked if he had thought about stepping down as president and leaving the country, he said: "I never thought about leaving Syria under any circumstances, in any situation, something I never put in my mind."