The US President Donald Trump has said that the Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is an "evil person" and an "animal" in an interview with Fox Business Network, comments that have caused a stir with Syrians both inside and outside the country. Mr Trump is increasing pressure on the Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon his support for Mr Assad in the wake of a suspected chemical attack by the Syrian regime which killed more than 80 people. "If Russia didn't go in and back this animal [Assad], you wouldn't have a problem right now," Mr Trump told interviewer, adding that Mr Putin's support for the dictator is "very bad for Russia" and "very bad for mankind." The hashtag #Assad is an animal trended on social media networks worldwide as thousands of people discussed what Mr Trump said.
