Assad says Syrians to decide his future

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad said Monday that only Syrians can decide his future — apparently dismissing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s remark that Washington would be willing to talk with Assad to help broker a political resolution to the country’s civil war.

Asked about Kerry’s statement regarding potential talks with the Syrian government, Assad said, “We are still hearing statements and have to wait for actions. Then we will decide.” He added that any “talk about the future of the Syrian president is for Syrian people alone.” The Syrian leader spoke to Iranian TV. Kerry said in an interview with CBS News on Sunday that the U.S. is pushing for Assad to discuss a transition strategy to help end Syria’s four-year conflict, which has killed more than 220,000 people since it started.