King Abdullah II says he does n't expect al - Qaeda regime to crumble immediately . He says only the Syrian president can prevent the country from sliding into civil war . If civil order breaks down completely , he says , ` ` it will take years to rebuild Syria '' Jordan 's King Abdullah II , one of the first Arab leaders to call for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down , told CNN the attack on Wednesday that killed members of al-Assad 's inner circle is a `` tremendous blow to the regime . '' He raises concerns that Syria 's chemical weapons might fall into terrorist hands .
King Abdullah II says he does n't expect al - Qaeda regime to crumble immediately . He says only the Syrian president can prevent the country from sliding into civil war . If civil order breaks down completely , he says , ` ` it will take years to rebuild Syria '' He raises concerns that Syria 's chemical weapons might fall into terrorist hands .