Syria’s Assad says Western countries secretly deal with his government

The Syrian regime President Bashar al-Assad has criticised what he said was Western countries “double standards” in dealing with the Syrian government, saying they criticise his government publicly but deal with it secretly.

“They attack us politically and then they send officials to deal with us under the table, especially the security,” Assad said during an interview with Australia’s SBS channel on Thursday.

“They don’t want to upset the United States. Actually most of the Western officials, they only repeat what the United States want them to say. This is the reality,” he said.

There was no immediate comment from Western governments.