Assad says 'Libyan Model' not to repeat in Syria

CAIRO - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the "Libyan model" would not repeat in Syria, referring to foreign military intervention that helped topple former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi last year, Egyptian state media reported Thursday.

During an interview with Egyptian state-run Ahram al-Arabi magazine which will be published on Friday, President Assad said the Syrian government would not fall and the militant opposition would not succeed, official MENA news agency reported.

"The change wouldn't happen... through foreign intervention," Assad said.

"We are heading towards change through reforms," the Syrian president said, "Dialogue with the opposition is the only way to handle the crisis."

The "triangle" for strategic balance in the Middle East is Egypt, Syria and Iraq, according to Assad.

The Syrian president accused the militants of carrying out terrorist acts against all elements of society and of targeting infrastructure facilities against people's interests, adding that the majority citizens would not support those militants.