Syria's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday "deplored and regretted" the U.S. State Department's criticism on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying it misquoted and distorted what al-Assad said during a recent interview with U.S. media.

"I find it ludicrous that he is attempting to hide behind some sort of shell game (and) claim that he doesn't exercise authority in his own country," U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner told a news briefing.

Toner's comments were "absolutely imprecise and unprofessional" as he poked fun at a speech that hasn't been said, Syrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi told reporters at a press conference.

Makdessi said President Assad was correcting a question when the ABC journalist asked him "did your forces make sever repression" by replying "Those are not my forces. There are forces in Syria whose tasks are to preserve" the country.

Makdessi quoted Assad as saying that "yes there were mistakes but all are under the ceiling of accountability."

Asked about the Arab League's response to a new message sent by Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem to AL chief Nabil al- Arabi concerning Syria's approval to allow observers to enter the country to monitor an end of the crackdown, Makdessi said "we didn 't receive till now any answer."

The United States and France on Tuesday sent their ambassadors back to Syria, after the envoys were recalled in November over security concerns.

Makdessi said "we hope the return of the ambassadors would help improve relations and respect the Syrian sovereignty."

He also voiced keenness about preserving ties with Turkey, saying "we are keen to establish a good neighborhood relations with Turkey and we hope this would be mutual."