'Putin asked to leave Assad '

moscow - An envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad late last year asked to leave. Assad explained that the anger aside. That the Financial Times Friday, after talks with two senior employees of Western intelligence.

Assad would the Russians have responded that they have no future in Syria, unless he remains in power. Putin is one of the main allies of the Syrian government, but now seems to dampen the relationship.

According to sources close to the regime in Damascus will distrust on the Russian agenda far. People Assad began to realize that if they defend the right to a big brother, he also things they can demand , said a Syrian businessman against the newspaper.

A spokesman for Putin denied Friday that Assad was asked to step down.