Syria's Al-Nusra issues bounties for Assad, Hezbollah chief

The head of the outfit says he would pay three million euros ($3.4 million) for anyone who can kill Bashar al-Assad

BEIRUT: The head of Syria's Al-Qaeda affiliate has issued bounties worth millions of dollars for the killing of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the head of powerful Shia militant group Hezbollah.

In a voice recording released late Monday, head of Al-Nusra Front Abu Mohamed al-Jolani said he would pay "three million euros ($3.4 million) for anyone who can kill Bashar al-Assad and end his story".

"How long must Muslims delay their rights and shed their blood for a man who loves his power?" he asked.

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The outfit's chief said he would pay out the sum even if a member of Assad's own family killed the head of state, and said Al-Nusra would protect the killer and his family.

Jolani also offered "an amount of two million euros ($2.2 million) for whoever kills (Hezbollah head) Hassan Nasrallah, even if it is a member of his own family or sect."

Hezbollah has intervened militarily in Syria's brutal conflict on behalf of Assad, dispatching thousands of fighters to various fronts across the country.

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Jolani criticised efforts to reach a political solution to the four-year war, which has killed more than 240,000 people.

"The issue is transforming from the downfall of an infidel, corrupt, and unjust regime... to being limited to the mazes of a political solution," he said.

Syria's conflict began with anti-government demonstrations in March 2011 but has since devolved into a protracted multi-front civil war.