BEIRUT: U.S. network ABC will air Wednesday an interview with Syrian President Bashar Assad conducted by veteran news broadcaster Barbara Walters.

ABC said the interview would be the first by an American broadcaster with the Syrian president since the popular uprising began in March. Assad has faced international pressure to step down as leader of the crisis-hit Arab country.

“Walters’ no-holds-barred interview with President Assad in Damascus comes as he is under unprecedented international pressure to step down and stands accused by the Arab League, the United Nations and human rights groups of gross and systematic human rights violations,” ABC said on its website Tuesday.

The American broadcaster said Walters had questioned the controversial Syrian leader about a Nov. 25 report by the United Nations, “which recorded the human rights violations including the detention and torture of children in his country, and recommended for Syria to be referred to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.”

“Walters also pressed President Assad on his government’s violent crackdown on protesters, the impact of economic and travel sanctions against his country, calls for the president to step down, and whether he will allow Arab League monitors and foreign press free and unrestricted access to Syria,” the agency added.