Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister has warned that the government would not give in to threats of a US-led military strike against the country, even if a third world war kicked off.
"The Syrian government will not change position even if there is World War III. No Syrian can sacrifice the independence of his country," Faisal al-Mekdad said in an exclusive interview with AFP on Wednesday.
"Syria has taken every measure to retaliate against... an aggression," he added, refusing to provide any clue as to what that might mean.
Al-Mekdad added the government was mobilizing its allies ahead of a possible strike, as US President Barack Obama lobbies Congress to back intervention and the French parliament debates the issue.
Washington claims an alleged chemical weapons attack on August 21 in suburbs of Damascus killed more than 1,400 people and blames it on the Syrian government - a claim Syria has vehemently denied.
The US has resorted to the alleged accusation to wage a war against Syria, however, domestic and international opposition against the preplanned strike has put pressure on Washington to stop the warmongering policy.
NTJ/HH
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