Syria dismisses Bush warning on supporting terrorism

SYRIA yesterday defiantly dismissed allegations by US President George W Bush that it was supporting and harbouring terrorists.

Mr Bush issued warnings to Syria and Iran on Monday, accusing them of “unacceptable” conduct and saying they would be held accountable, linking their behaviour to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Syrian foreign ministry information head Bussaina Shaaban said Mr Bush’s accusations were “not new”. She said: “We in Syria are used to such statements. They are part of the constant pressure” by Washington on Damascus.

Ms Shaaban said the Bush administration’s hostility stemmed from “Syria’s clear position with regard to events in the region”, including the US-led war in Iraq that Damascus opposed and the Arab-Israeli peace process.

“Such pressures will not influence Syria’s stance,” she said. “the Americans are well aware of the Syrian position with regard to terrorism and the way in which Syria has co-operated in the fight against international terrorism.”

US officials in the past have said Syria helped track down members of the al-Qaida network in the wake of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks.

But Ms Shaaban said there was a fundamental difference between Damascus and Washington. “Syria cannot consider as terrorism the Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence and to put an end to the Israeli occupation,” she said.

“The United Nations charter gives peoples under occupation the right to resist,” she said, calling for an “acceptable formula” to resolve the differences between Damascus and Washington.

Syria plays host to various Palestinian radical groups fighting Israel but following an earlier bout of US pressure it clamped down on the activities of 10 of them.

Speaking at a press conference at his Texas ranch following talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Mr Bush said it was time for all governments in the Middle East to support Israel and the Palestinians as they strive to end their conflict. “This includes the governments of Syria and Iran,” he said.

“Today, Syria and Iran continue to harbour and assist terrorism. This behaviour is completely unacceptable.”

Mr Bush said states supporting terrorism will be “held accountable”. “Supporting and harbouring terrorists undermines the prospects for peace and betrays the true interests of the Palestinian people,” he said.