Hollande admits arming Syrian terrorists against embargo

A French journalist Xavier Panon is to release a new book called "In the Corridors of French Diplomacy" this month. The book reveals interviews with Francois Hollande, political advisers as well as other officials.

One of the most impressive facts is the confession of current President Hollande on delivering weaponry to the Syrian terrorists against the embargo. "We began when we were certain they would end up in the right hands. For the lethal weapons it was our services who delivered them," Hollande said.

Thus, France supplied cannons, machine guns, rocket launchers and anti-tank missiles to the forces fighting Bashar Al-Assad in the protracted Syrian civil war. In its turn, it contradicts with the Hollande's previous statement that France only sent weapons to Syria after the embargo was lifted.

President Assad accused France of supporting the same terrorists who carried out attacks in Paris: "Is it democratic to send weapons to terrorists and to support them? So I have the right to support the terrorists who attacked Charlie Hebdo, for example?" he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov has accused the West of covertly backing extremists to topple the Syrian regime. "Russia condemns the use of extremist groups in efforts to change the regime," he said at a November news conference.

The book also describes the French government's attack plans for Syria. These included airstrikes against the Syrian regime for its alleged use of chemical weapons in August 2013. One of the targets was a Syrian army intelligence headquarters.

According to French political adviser, the strikes had two objectives: to change the political order in Syria, and to destabilize Russia and pressure it to change its stance on the Syrian conflict.

Also read: Syria: The case against Assad