Syrian president Assad says army 'has balance of power'
(about 4 hours later)
The Syrian army has scored "major victories" against rebels and now holds "the balance of power" in the conflict, President Bashar al-Assad has reportedly told a Lebanese TV station.
The Syrian army has scored "major victories" against rebels and now holds "the balance of power" in the conflict, President Bashar al-Assad has told a Lebanese TV station.
Mr Assad is also quoted as saying Syria has received the first shipment of an advanced Russian air defence system.
He also suggested Syria may have received the first shipment of an advanced Russian air defence system.
Russia vowed to go ahead with sending S-300 missiles earlier this week.
Russia vowed earlier this week to go ahead with sending S-300 missiles.
Meanwhile, the main opposition outside Syria said it would not take part in peace talks while massacres continued.
Meanwhile, the main opposition outside Syria said it would not take part in peace talks while massacres continued.
Speaking in Istanbul where the Syrian National Coalition is meeting, its interim head, George Sabra, said that talk of diplomatic conferences was farcical while Syrian government forces backed by the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah were carrying out heinous crimes.
Speaking in Istanbul where the Syrian National Coalition is meeting, its interim head, George Sabra, said talk of diplomatic conferences was farcical while Syrian government forces backed by the Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah were carrying out heinous crimes.
Last week, a spokesman for the National Coalition had said it would attend, but only if Mr Assad agreed to step down.
In his interview, Mr Assad said Syria would "in principle" attend the talks if there were not unacceptable preconditions.
However, he said it would not be surprising if the conference failed, and if it did, it would not make much difference on the ground, because what he called the "terrorism" of the rebels would continue.
'Major victories'
'Major victories'
President Assad's interview with Hezbollah-linked al-Manar TV is set to be broadcast later on Thursday.
President Assad's interview with Hezbollah-linked al-Manar TV was broadcast on Thursday.
In excerpts from the interview published by Lebanon's pro-Syrian al-Akhbar newspaper, Mr Assad is quoted as saying: "The Syrian army has scored major victories against armed rebels on the ground and the balance of power is now with the Syrian army."
He said he was "very confident" about the victory of his forces, and said Russia had fulfilled some of its weapons contracts.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem made similar comments on Wednesday, telling Lebanese media: "Our armed forces have regained the momentum.''
However, he did not specify whether this included the S-300 missiles - a highly capable surface-to-air missile system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles.
Mr Assad also admits in the interview with al-Manar that Syria and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement are co-operating, or "on the same axis".
Mr Assad said there was "popular pressure" to open a military front against Israel on the Golan Heights, and said Syria would respond directly if there were any further Israeli air strikes.
"Hezbollah fighters are deployed along the Lebanese-Syrian borders but the operations are conducted by the Syrian army until the "terrorist" groups are crushed", he is quoted as saying.
Israel has warned it would regard the Russian missiles as a serious threat to its security.
Mr Assad condemns backing for the rebels from Turkey, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, claiming there are now 100,000 foreign fighters on Syrian soil.
On Thursday, Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom told public radio that Israel did not want to "escalate" the situation with Syria, but would not allow the transfer of strategic weapons to Hezbollah.
'Invading'
'Invading'
Earlier, a rebel leader accused Hezbollah of "invading" Syria.
Earlier, a rebel leader accused Hezbollah of "invading" Syria.
Gen Selim Idriss, the military chief of the main umbrella group of Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army, claimed that more than 7,000 fighters of the Lebanese Shia movement were taking part in attacks on the rebel-held town of Qusair.
Gen Selim Idriss, the military chief of the main umbrella group of Syrian rebels, the Free Syrian Army, claimed that more than 7,000 fighters of the Lebanese Shia movement were taking part in attacks on the rebel-held town of Qusair.
He made an emotional appeal to Western powers on the BBC World Service's Newshour programme, saying: "We are dying. Please come and help us."
He made an emotional appeal to Western powers on the BBC World Service's Newshour programme, saying: "We are dying. Please come and help us."
More than 50,000 residents were trapped in the town and a "massacre" would occur if it fell, he added.
More than 50,000 residents were trapped in the town and a "massacre" would occur if it fell, he added.
Regime forces, backed by Hezbollah fighters, are reported to have retaken from rebels a disused military airfield north of Qusair.
Opposition groups and humanitarian organisations say conditions for the civilians and the wounded in Qusair are dire, with doctors saying oxygen and other medical supplies have run out.
Opposition groups and humanitarian organisations say conditions for the civilians and the wounded in Qusair are dire, with doctors saying oxygen and other medical supplies have run out.
Syrian government officials say that a corridor has been established to allow civilians to escape, and fighters who put down their arms are free to leave too.
Syrian government officials say a corridor has been established to allow civilians to escape, and fighters who put down their arms are free to leave too.
Fears of further tension
Government and Hezbollah forces are reported to have retaken from rebels a disused military airfield north of Qusair.
"Syria has received the first shipment of Russian anti-aircraft S-300 rockets," Mr Assad is reported as saying in the TV interview.
"The rest of the shipment will arrive soon."
The S-300 is a highly capable surface-to-air missile system that, as well as targeting aircraft, also has the capacity to engage ballistic missiles.
The delivery of such missiles raises fears of further tension with Israel, as Mr Assad is also reported to have threatened to respond directly if Israel launches any further air attacks on Syria.
Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon said on Tuesday he had information suggesting the missiles had not yet been delivered, but if they were Israel would "know how to act".
On Thursday, Israeli Energy Minister Silvan Shalom told public radio that Israel did not want to "escalate" the situation with Syria, but would not allow the transfer of strategic weapons to Hezbollah.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Beirut says the delivery of missiles could bring the region into extremely dangerous terrain.
If those missiles have in fact been supplied and the Israelis could figure out where they are and hit them, the regional superpower, Israel, would be hitting material provided by what used to be a global superpower and is still a very important international power, our correspondent says.
Efforts by the US and Russia to convene a peace conference in Geneva in June have suffered a further setback with the opposition Syrian National Coalition saying it will not take part while killing continues in Qusair.
Speaking in Istanbul, Mr Sabra appealed for international help for people that he said were trapped in Qusair - a strategically vital town on the border with Lebanon that has become a key battleground.
And he warned the Lebanese government over the involvement of Hezbollah, saying the Syrian people could not forgive the spilling of their blood.
Only last week, a spokesman for the National Coalition had said it would attend if Mr Assad agreed to step down.
The Syrian leader is quoted in the TV interview as saying the Syrian government would attend in principle but doubts the meeting will yield results.
