(Adds quotes, detail)
DUBAI, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Syria's government would welcome
dialogue with opposition groups to end the conflict, its
ambassador to Iran was quoted as saying on Monday, but he said
talks must be supervised by President Bashar al-Assad - a
condition rebels are unlikely to accept.
Hamed Hassan said Syria had co-operated to implement the
plan of U.N. peace envoy Kofi Annan but that other countries had
scuppered it, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.
Speaking in Tehran, he repeated Syria's assertion that it
was being attacked by "terrorist" groups.
"The government of Bashar al-Assad welcomes logical
discussions with opposition groups in Syria," he was quoted as
saying. "The main condition is that these discussions take place
under the supervision of the president."
Rebels waging a 17-month-old armed struggle against Assad's
rule have said they require his departure, making it unlikely
they would accept such an offer of talks.
"With great determination and with unity with the presidency
of Mr. Bashar al-Assad, Syria will continue its campaign against
the terrorist conspiracies," Hassan said.
Syria, allied to Iran, has accused Qatar, Turkey and Saudi
Arabia of helping the rebels in an attempt to create instability
in the country.
"These instabilities do not only threaten the security of
Syria," he said. "They are a serious threat to the security and
calm of the region and in particular some neighbouring
countries."
"Right at the time when everything was going well, the emir
of Qatar made a sly move and said that Kofi Annan's plan had
only progressed 3 percent," Hassan added.
(Reporting By Yeganeh Torbati; Editing by Pravin Char)