Syrian dictator Assad issues astonishing first statement since he was toppled: Tyrant insists he wanted to keep fighting and claims Putin 'forced him' to flee

Former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has issued his first statement since he was deposed by rebel groups and fled to Russia less than two weeks ago.

Assad, speaking from Moscow where he sought refuge, said that ‘at no time during the events that have taken place in Syria’ did he intend to step down or flee, adding that he remained in Damascus until the last possible moment.

He claimed to have left the capital for Russia’s Hmeimim air base near Latakia in the early hours of December 8,…