Syrian pop stars in verbal punch-up over Assad support

A Syrian pop star has lashed out at a fellow artist for her support of rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad – only to receive a surprising response.

Syrian-Lebanese singer George Wassouf launched a verbal tirade against artist Assala during an interview on Tunisian television that was aired this week.

"She's a whore," a seemingly intoxicated Wassouf told talk show host Aicha Othman.

When asked what Assala has lost, Wassouf replied: "She's lost her country and her house. Those who take their clothes off end up cold."

"She thinks she God's gift to the world… but she has betrayed her country," he mumbled incoherently, while fidgeting and swaying back and forth.

"It was Hafez al-Assad, may he rest in peace, who sent her to Russia," he added.

The troubled star, who was arrested in Sweden in 2008 for the possession of cocaine, has been an ardent supporter of the Assad regime since the uprising began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

The 'sultan al-tarab' (master of music) told Lebanese media in May 2014 that Bashar al-Assad was good hearted and wanted to help Syrians.

On the other hand, Assala has backed the ousting of Assad since the outbreak of the war and has strongly condemned the regime's brutal suppression of peaceful protests.

More than 300,000 people have been killed in Syria's nearly six-year war.

To the surprise of her fans, the Syrian diva responded to Wassouf's crude verbal assault on Sunday.

"Because I am worried about him, respect his history and the fact that he was a friend to the most important person in my life (Dad), I will not respond, and from the bottom of my heart I forgive him and wish him the best," Assala tweeted out.

Rumours ran wild that Assala had fallen out with her younger sister Reem, when she recorded a song in praise of the regime in 2011.