Syria denies Assad ready to leave power

DAMASCUS - Syrian information ministry on Friday denied as "totally baseless" media reports which cited the Russian ambassador to France as saying that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is ready to leave office in a "civilized way."

In a statement carried by the state media, the ministry said the interview of Russian Ambassador to France Alexander Orlov with the International Radio France has been altered, adding that Orlov did not make the remarks.

The media escalation comes in alignment with ongoing clashes in the Syrian capital Damascus, in which the government forces and opposition fighters have been fighting since Sunday.