Syrian FM decries US lies on chemical weapons, says military intervention would serve Israel

Walid Moualem vows Syria will continue to fight even if attacked.

By JPOST.COM STAFF, REUTERS
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem 311 (R) (photo credit: Ho New / Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Mouallem 311 (R)
(photo credit: Ho New / Reuters)
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem on Tuesday "categorically denied" that the country's military used chemical weapons against its own people last week, accusing the United States government of "propagating lies."
Moualem's comments came a day after US Secretary of State John Kerry strongly suggested that an attack against the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad was in the offing.
A visibly angry Kerry said on Monday that it was “undeniable” the Assad regime has used chemical weapons on a massive scale, and that US President Barack Obama would respond strongly.
Moualem said that he was holding a press conference in order to impart to the US public ahead of potential foreign military intervention in the country that the claims made by the Obama administrationwere false.
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The Syrian foreign minister said that a US strike against Syria would serve the interests of Israel and al-Qaida linked groups.
He stated that the Syrian government was "honoring all pledges and commitments" by allowing UN inspectors access to the site of last week's alleged chemical attack in the eastern suburbs of Damascus which reportedly killed more than a thousand people.
Moualem said that the Syrian government was committed to maintaining protection for the UN inspectors and the opposition was behind sniper fire directed at the delegation on Monday.
Syria will press on with its military efforts despite any potential foreign strikes on its territory, the foreign minister said.
Any foreign strike on Syria to try to create a balance of power in the war between Assad's forces and the rebels is "delusional", Moualem said.
"If the purpose of a possible (foreign) military strike is to achieve a balance of power ... it's delusional and not at all possible," he said.