"The whole world knows that if Syria is partitioned, or if terrorists take control of the country, there will be direct contagion of the surrounding countries," President Assad said in an interview with two Turkish media outlets.

"Then there would be a domino effect on countries perhaps far from the Middle East, to the west, east, north and south. This would mean instability for many years, even decades," he warned.
 

In the interview President Assad also slammed Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and accused Ankara of complicity in the deaths of Syrians.

In excerpts posted earlier this week, the Syrian President lashed out at the Arab League and its decision to hand Syria's seat to the foreign-backed terrorists.

"The Arab League lacks legitimacy. It's a League that represents the Arab states, not the Arab people, so it can't grant or retract legitimacy."

"Real legitimacy is not accorded by organizations or foreign officials or other country... legitimacy is that which is granted by the people," President Assad said.

The interview, with Turkey's Ulusal television and Aydinlik newspaper, focused extensively on Syria's ties with Ankara, which has backed the two-year insurgency against its government.

In extracts published on Wednesday, Assad accused Erdogan of not having said "a single word of truth since the beginning of the crisis in Syria."

"The fire in Syria will spread to Turkey, unfortunately (Erdogan) doesn't see this reality," Assad added in the footage released on Friday.

"Erdogan is working with Israel to destroy Syria... but the Syrian state has not fallen and the Syrian people have resisted," he said, accusing the Turkish government of "contributing directly to the killing of the Syrian people."

"We cannot allow idiot, immature leaders to destroy relations" between the Turks and the Arabs, Assad said.
 

However, President Assad said he remained open to dialogue but without foreign interference.

"The dialogue must be intra-Syrian, without foreign interference. That is the only red line. This country is for all Syrians, they can discuss what they want," he said.