BEIJING, Sept. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied his government was behind a chemical weapons attack near Damascus on August 21st. Assad says there’s no conclusive evidence that a chemical attack even took place.

Interviewed by US TV station CBS in Damascus, Assad said he’s very concerned that an attack on Syria will degrade his military and tip the balance in favor of rebels in the conflict. But he warned the United States there would be retaliation by Syria’s allies, and said Syria was prepared for any attack. In the interview, Assad gave a message to the American people NOT to get involved in another Middle East conflict.

(Source: cntv.cn)