Assad warns France over Syria military action

President Bashar al-Assad has warned France it will become an enemy of Syria if it is to take part in a military intervention.

In an interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Assad described the accusation his regime had used chemical weapons as "illogical" and also warned of "a regional war" in the Middle East if the US and France were to launch a military strike on Syria.

Europe Editor James Mates reports:

Assad's comments came as the French government said it had intelligence showing the Syrian chemical attack was launched from within Government-controlled areas.

It also described the attack as "massive and coordinated" and concluded the opposition would not have had the means to carry it out.

The report went on to say the chemical attack was an attempt to take back the territories and the Syrian regime later bombed areas where chemical strikes had taken place in a bid to wipe out any evidence.

It added the Syrian use of chemical weapons posed a major threat to French and global security.