Assad denies planned exit from Syria, calls new leaders 'terrorists'

Ousted president says he left country only once capital Damascus had fallen to rebels

DAMASCUS - Ousted president Bashar al-Assad broke his silence on Dec 16 after fleeing Syria, saying in a statement that he left only once Damascus had fallen and denouncing the country's new leaders as terrorists.

Mr Assad fled to Russia just over a week ago, as a lightning offensive spearheaded by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) wrested from his control city after city until the rebels reached the Syrian capital.

The collapse of Mr Assad's rule stunned the world and sparked celebrations around Syria and beyond, after his crackdown on democracy protests in 2011 set off one of the deadliest wars of the century.

Rooted in Syria's branch of Al Qaeda, HTS is proscribed by several Western governments as a terrorist organisation, though it has sought to moderate its rhetoric and pledged to protect the country's religious minorities.

Long before the emergence of HTS and jihadist groups in the Syrian war, however, Mr Assad consistently branded his opponents, including non-violent protesters, as terrorists.

"My departure from Syria was neither planned nor did it occur during the final hours of the battles," said a statement on the ousted presidency's Telegram channel.

Mr Assad was propped up throughout the war by Russia and Iran.

"Moscow requested... an immediate evacuation to Russia on the evening of Sunday, Dec 8" after he moved that day to Latakia, where Russia operates a naval base, the statement said.

"When the state falls into the hands of terrorism and the ability to make a meaningful contribution is lost, any position becomes void of purpose," added the statement, released in English.