Assad says Syria has 'emerged victorious': Report

Assad's regime refers to the March 2011 revolt that broke out in Syria as a foreign-backed plot against the country.

BEIRUT: President Bashar al Assad has proclaimed that "Syria has emerged victorious" in the fight against rebels trying to topple his regime, according to comments published Tuesday in a Lebanese newspaper.

"The conspiracy against Syria is nearing its end," pro-Damascus Al-Akhbar newspaper said, citing unnamed politicians who met with Assad in the Syrian capital.

The opposition to his regime is "playing a game of survival", the newspaper cited Assad as telling his Arab nationalist visitors.

"Significant successes have been made, whose strategic importance is clear even to those in the region and the rest of the world who are making useless plans against Syria's security," he added.

The politicians described Assad as "very comfortable" with military developments in Syria and had raised "contradictions in the exiled opposition groups' stance... as proof of their failure".

Assad's regime has frequently referred to the revolt that broke out in Syria in March 2011 as a foreign-backed plot against the country.