Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says opposition fighters will not be victorious in their fight against the government, but says the “doors of dialogue” remains open.

In comments, to the Egyptian weekly Al-Ahram Al-Araby for Friday publication, Mr. Assad said the armed groups exercising terrorism against the state are not popular within society.

The president commented as Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the Syrian president “politically dead.” Speaking to The Washington Post, Mr. Erdogan said he feels that Iran, China and Russia — all allies of the Syrian government — also believe Mr. Assad will go but have questions about what will come after the Syrian president leaves.

Meanwhile, a Syrian rights group reports the Syrian government continues to bombard several northern areas.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported fighting between rebel and regime forces in northeastern Aleppo Friday. Explosions were reported in and around the capital, Damascus, and shelling was reported in Homs province.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 250 people were killed in fighting across the country on Thursday, including 165 unarmed civilians, 34 rebel fighters, 5 defected soldiers, and 46 regular soldiers.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said the government and the opposition in Syria appear determined to resolve the crisis militarily. Mr. Ban said Syria will be a top issue as he meets with world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly, saying they must urgently address the situation.