Inspired by the news that the Libyan capital Tripoli was falling into rebels’ hands and that that the regime of Muammar Qaddafi is over, thousands of Syrians poured into the streets Monday and taunted President Bashar Assad, The Associated Press reported.

According to the report, the protesters shouted at Assad that his family’s 40-year dynasty will be the next dictatorship to crumble.

“Qaddafi is gone; now it’s your turn, Bashar!” protesters reported shouted in several cities. Security forces opened fire in the central city of Homs, reported AP, killing at least one person.

On Sunday, Assad gave an interview to Syrian state television, in which he said the opposition in Syria has become ‘more militant’ in recent weeks.

“As for the security situation, [it] has become more militant in the recent weeks and specially last Friday,” said Assad. “We are capable of dealing with it.. [I] am not worried.”

He also said his regime would not bow to ‘imperial powers,’ and warned he had “surprises” in store if foreign forces intervene in Syria as they did in Libya. He did not offer detail, but Assad is suspected of stockpiling chemical weapons.

“Any action against Syria will have greater consequences, greater than they can tolerate,” Assad said.

Assad also took advantage of the interview to fire back at U.S. President Barack Obama, saying Obama should resign and not he, since the U.S. stands alongside Israel “who commits crimes against Arabs and Palestinians.”

“What the West says does not interest us,” Assad said. “If we understand that these countries support the crimes of Israelis against the Palestinians, then we understand what this is all about.”

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu also commented on the goings on in the region, saying, “Leaders should know that they will be able to remain in power as long as they remain sensitive to the demands of the people.”

Though he did not specifically mention Syria, Turkey has been at odds with Assad lately over his continued violence against protesters.

Britain’s Defense Secretary Liam Fox also warned Assad, telling BBC radio that Assad would “be thinking again in light of what has happened in Tripoli.”

“There is an unavoidable change in the area — and I think the message to those in that region is that if you do not allow change to be a process it can become an event,” Fox said.

Human rights groups say more than 2,000 people — most of them unarmed protesters — have been killed in the government's crackdown on the uprising.

Last Friday alone, gunmen loyal to Assad killed fourteen protesters in the seminal protest-city of Dara'a when demonstrations were staged there after Friday's weekly afternoon Muslim prayers. The slayings came one day after Assad promised United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon operations against civilians 'were over.'