Bashar al Assad has said US-led coalition bombing in Syria helped Islamic State to expand and recruit fighters.

As British MPs prepare to vote today on whether the UK should join its allies launching airstrikes in Syria, the country's president accused the US, UK, and other Western powers of "supporting terrorists".

However, he praised military action by his ally Russia, which has been accused of targeting moderate rebels as well as jihadists.

Mr Assad said: "Since the beginning of that (US-led) coalition, if you want to talk about facts, not opinion, since the beginning of that coalition, ISIS (Islamic State group) has expanded and the recruiting from around the world has increased.

He continued: "Since the participation of Russia in the same fight, so-called against terrorism, ISIS has been shrinking.

"So this is reality. The facts are telling."

When asked what it would take to end Syria's four-year civil war, which has killed more than 200,000 people, Mr Assad said: "When those countries that I mentioned - France, UK, US, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and some other - stop supporting those terrorists.

"(The next) day the situation will be better and in a few months we will have full peace in Syria, definitely. If they stop."

The US, UK, and other Western powers fighting Islamic State have demanded that Mr Assad steps down and have backed rebel groups fighting his forces.

Meanwhile the Syrian president has referred to all his opponents as "terrorists" and accused world leaders pushing for his departure of "supporting terrorists".

The Syrian leader is backed by Russia and Iran and he praised Vladimir Putin for launching a bombing campaign backing Assad's forces in September.

VIDEO: Asad pro ÄŒT: „Jak byste mohl mít podporu obyvatel, kdybyste je zabíjel?“ https://t.co/jKLTm38kUm pic.twitter.com/5W7HkHygxW

— ÄŒT24 (@CT24zive) December 1, 2015