Syria told to stop arming Saddam

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld tonight issued a stern warning to Syria to stop sending military equipment to Iraqi forces, saying such shipments have included night-vision goggles.

“We consider such trafficking as hostile acts and will hold the Syrian government responsible for the incidents,” Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon briefing.

“These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces,” he added.

Syrian President Bashar Assad has described the coalition military action as “clear occupation and a flagrant aggression against a United Nations member state.” Syria is the only Arab country currently on the UN Security Council.