Obama Will Leave Office With Assad Still in Power - Lawmaker

US President Barack Obama will leave office before the resignation of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Russian lawmaker Alexei Pushkov wrote on his Twitter page.

Pushkov ironically recalled the words made by Obama on Assad’s future back in 2012.

"'Assad’s days are numbered,' Obama said on March 2, 2012. Since then, 1,331 days have passed, and the US is still counting the days until Assad’s resignation. When Obama leaves it will be the same," the lawmaker wrote.

"Дни Ассада сочтены",- заявил 2.03.2012 г. Обама. С тех пор прошел ровно 1331 день,а в США до сих пор считают дни Асада. Так и Обама уйдет..

— Алексей Пушков (@Alexey_Pushkov) 24 октября 2015

Since the Syrian civil war broke out four years ago, Western countries have repeatedly called for the removal of the Syrian president from power, while Moscow believes that Assad is the legitimate authority and only Syria’s citizens can decide his fate.

However, recently the US State Department changed its stance on Assad’s future and admitted the leader could play a role in the transition process in the country.

Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with the Syrian government army fighting several opposition factions and numerous militant groups, including Islamic State and the Nusra Front, an al-Qaeda affiliate.