West at root of Europe's migrant crisis

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the West is "crying" for refugees flooding into Europe but its support for "terrorists" in his country lies at the roots of the crisis.

In an interview with Russian media, Assad also said it was natural for Iran to have stepped up its decades-old military and economic support for Damascus at a time of war.

"Those refugees left Syria because of the terrorism, mainly because of the terrorists and because of the killing, and second because of the results of terrorism," said the embattled leader.

"When you have terrorism, and you have the destruction of the infrastructure, you won't have the basic needs of living," Assad said, according to a transcript made available yesterday.

"So, the West is crying for them, and the West is supporting terrorists since the beginning of the crisis when it said that this was a peaceful uprising," said Assad.

"If you are worried about them, stop supporting terrorists ... This is the core of the whole issue of refugees."

Syria's government labels all those involved in the anti-Assad uprising and ensuing civil war as "terrorists", including Western-backed rebels.

Assad told the media outlets from Russia, a major ally, that Tehran's support was also essential for his regime in Syria's conflict, which has cost more than 240,000 lives since 2011.