“I know Syria well. They will fight, and they have seculars, Christians, and others on their side,” Maliki clarified in an interview published Saturday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki revealed to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that US President Barackz Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had told him two years ago that “Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad will fall in two months.” However, his response to them was: “He will not fall, not even after two years.”

“I know Syria well. They will fight, and they have seculars, Christians, and others on their side,” Maliki further clarified in an interview published Saturday.

On another hand, the Iraqi PM considered that “Saudi Arabia represents moderation,” highlighting his country’s desire to establish strong relations with it.

In contrast, he criticized Turkey’s attitude towards Iraq and other countries, and accused it of trying to control Iraq, Syria, and Egypt.

"It (Turkey) is relying in its intervention on the sectarian element, it is presenting financial support, and the opposition and extremist groups are constantly meeting in Ankara,” Maliki pointed out.

Internally, the Iraqi PM tackled the issue of extending his term for the third time, stating: “This is the decision of the Iraqi people, not mine. We are not a one party system, we rather have several parties, political forces, and elements that refer to the constitution and to the Iraqi people’s word.”

“I would retire now, but the decision is that of the Iraqi people,” he alleged.