Syria's ambassador to Moscow accused Western nations and their Arab allies Wednesday of arming the opposition "terrorists" responsible for much of the violence in the country, dpa reported.
Thousands have been killed in a government crackdown on protesters demanding since March that President Bashar al-Assad step down. The Syrian government blames the violence on 'terrorists'.
"Almost the entire world is fighting a bloody war against Syria. It is being fought on all levels: diplomatic, economic, in the media and by military means," Riad Haddad told a news conference, Interfax news agency reported.
"This is the work of armed terrorist groups which are being financed from outside," he said. He estimated their number at "several thousand."
Speaking against the backdrop of growing calls for al-Assad to step down, he said: "There is no chance of it at all. The president of our country is legitimate and was elected by a majority of the people."
Responding to an Arab League proposal for a peacekeeping mission to help bring an end to the bloodshed he said: "Syria has categorically rejected this option."
Together with China, Russia - a long-time ally of Syria - vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution aimed at ending the government crackdown on opposition protests.