( CNN ) -- If the Syrian government falls , other countries in the region could suffer , Syrian President Bashar al-Assad told a Turkish news outlet Friday . The embattled leader told Turkey 's Ulusal TV that neighboring states that should be allies instead are being influenced by foreign powers . `` A fight in Syria would affect countries in the region . And perhaps with a domino effect will impact faraway countries as well , '' al-Assad said . `` The Arab states that have not supported the Syrian regime are those that are not independent actors but rather ( act ) under the guidance of foreign countries . '' Syria is in the midst of a civil war with roots that date back to March 2011 , when protesters , partly inspired by Arab Spring uprisings in the region , began demonstrating for more freedom . Read more : Syria suffers 'deadliest month ' That movement quickly morphed into a movement against al-Assad , who was appointed president by Syria 's parliament in 2000 after his father , Hafez al-Assad , died . The government responded with a crackdown -- with devastating results . The United Nations estimates that more than 70,000 people have died in the violence . The brutal civil war claimed more than 6,000 lives in March alone -- making it the deadliest month since the conflict began , the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported this week . The Local Coordination Committees of Syria , a network of opposition activists , said 83 people were killed Friday , including 48 in Damascus and its suburbs . CNN can not independently verify the figures because its reporters generally are not permitted to enter the country . Read more : President makes rare appearance . Asked on Friday whether he would consider giving up for the sake of stability , al-Assad did not mention the uprising inside Syria , but said that the wishes of other countries do not affect him . `` I am an elected leader of the Syrian people , '' he said . `` Whether I am a president is determined by the Syrian people , not by foreign states . '' He singled out the United States as a nation that has `` massacred millions '' in Iraq , Afghanistan and Libya . He also criticized Turkey , saying Syria 's neighbor `` has a hand in the blood flowing in Syria . '' Al-Assad said he would welcome talks with his internal opponents . `` The only red line is about foreign intervention , '' he said . `` Any dialogue should include only Syrians . It should not include foreign intervention . We have no other red lines from this . Syrians can talk about and discuss anything . This country is for all Syrians , and they can bring all things to the table . ''
NEW : 83 killed in fighting Friday , rebel group says . Bashar al-Assad blames `` foreign powers '' for civil war . Embattled president says he will not give up . Syria 's civil war has claimed some 70,000 lives .