Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could run in the next presidential elections

In an interview with Turkey’s Halk TV due to be broadcast later on Friday, Assad called Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan “bigoted” and said Ankara was allowing terrorists to cross into Syria to attack the army and Syrian civilians. “In the near future, these terrorists will have an impact on Turkey and Turkey will pay a heavy price for it.”

He said it's still too early to say whether he'll run for re-election next year, but suggested he would refrain from seeking a third term — if he feels that's what most Syrians want -