Assad denies responsibility in Syrian crackdown - Jerusalem Post

Syrian President Bashar Assad told ABC News in an interview aired Wednesday that he is not directly responsible for acts of violence committed by his security forces since an uprising against the Alawite president began in Syria in March of this year, and denied reports of torture by the Syrian army.

Speaking with Barbara Walters, Assad said that

"There is a difference between a deliberate policy of repression, and the presence of some errors committed by some officials. There is a great difference," Assad reportedly said, adding that acts of violence were carried out by "individuals," and not ordered by the Syrian government.

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The situation in Syria has grown increasingly chaotic in the last few months as security forces have been accused of firing live rounds on peaceful protests, Syrian soldiers and intelligence officers have defected, some of whom have helped form the the Free Syrian Army " to support the opposition.

The death toll in the embattled country has risen above 4,000 people according to the United Nations.

Assad, speaking during his first interview with an American news outlet, dismissed that figure, questioning the UN's credibility.

He also claimed that most of those killed in street violence were government supporters and not vice versa, as has been widely claimed by witnesses, human rights groups, and the UN.

Assad said that he has not ordered the killing of civilians, saying "no government in the world kills its people, unless it's led by a crazy person," according to ABC News.

Western leaders, Turkey and the Arab League have ordered that the Syrian president stop a brutal crackdown on protesters that has caused thousands of deaths, and usher in political reforms that he promised almost immediately after the uprising began. Jordan, Turkey, the EU and the US have called on Assad to step down.