Moscow, Mar 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti): The British government is "shallow and immature" and has for centuries played an "unconstructive" role in the Middle East, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has said.

In an interview with the Sunday Times, Assad said: "To be frank, Britain has played famously in our region an unconstructive role in different issues, for decades, some say for centuries."

"How can we expect to ask Britain to play a role while it's determined to militarise the problem?"

Assad ruled out any suggestions that Britain could help resolve the ongoing conflict in Syria.

"We do not expect an arsonist to be a firefighter," he said.

"How can you ask them to play a role in making the situation better, more stable, how can we expect them to make the violence less when they want to send the military supply to the terrorist?" he said.

Syria has been locked in a civil war since demonstrations broke out against Assad in March 2011. According to UN estimates, at least 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.

Western states have been calling for Assad to step down. However, Russia and Iran insist that Assad's exit cannot be a precondition for a deal to resolve the crisis.