Further American measures expected against Syria
Syria-USA, Politics, 2/16/2005

The US Secretary Of State Condoleezza Rice said that Washington has taken the measures it considers necessary in this phase and will discuss other available options in its efforts to excert pressure on Syria.

American sources announced that Washington is studying further punishment measures against Syria including more economic sanctions, and this might reach the extent of authorization of the American army in Iraq to carry out chasing operations of gunmen through the Syrian borders.

The spokesman for the US Department Of State Richard Boucher said that his country feels regret over several aspects of the Syrian practice, noting that Syria's Accountability Act avails more punishment acts against Damascus., Boucher said that ambassador met before she was summoned on to Washington for consultation with Syrian officials to express Washington's deep concern and great anger over the assassination of the Lebanese former Prime minister Hariri which she described as an "ugly terrorist act."

On the other hand, the Syrian ambassador to the US, Imad Mustafa, played down Washington's summoning of its ambassador in Damascus. He said in a statement to al-Jazeera TV that this measure does not mean the withdrawal of the Ambassador nor reduction of the level of the American diplomatic representation and that he was summoned by the Syrian government to Damascus nine times in 2004.

Mustafa denied his country to be involved in the assassination of al-Hariri which he considered as aiming to flaring up sedition in Lebanon and undermining Syrian- Lebanese relations.

Previous Stories:
  Arab League chief calls US to reconsider policy on Syria   (2/4/2005)
  Djirjian visited Damascus secretly   (1/17/2005)
  Washington warns Moscow over selling missiles to Syria   (1/13/2005)

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