Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused Western nations of funding Al-Qaeda and warned they will pay dearly for their actions, according to excerpts of an interview to be broadcast later Wednesday. "The West has paid heavily for funding Al-Qaeda in its early stages," Assad told Syria's pro-regime Al-Ikhbariya television, according to his office. "Today it is doing the same in Syria, Libya and other places, and will pay a heavy price in the heart of Europe and the United States."