Assad made the public outcry in an interview with a Turkish television station.

 

　　"The Arab League itself needs legitimacy, it's a league that represents Arab countries, not Arab nations people, and it lost its legitimacy a long time ago, because Arab League member states no longer represent their own people."

 

　　The Arab League in 2011 had suspended the Syrian government's membership in the organization as punishment for the regime's crackdown on opponents.

 

　　Meanwhile, Assad also criticized neighboring countries, especially Turkey for backing the Syrian rebellion.

 

　　"We are surrounded by a group of countries that help terrorists and allow them to enter Syria. In Lebanon, there are some different factions that help people who want to infiltrate Syria. Turkey's government officially harbors terrorists and sends them into Syria. They're also crossing over from Jordan."

 

　　The fighting has escalated across Syria in recent weeks, as the rebels and the Assad regime try to gain the upper hand in the conflict lasting for two years.

 

　　Figures from the United Nations show more than 70,000 people have been killed in the long-lasting violence.