US opposes Syria's accession to the UN Security Council

The London- based al-Quds al-Arabi daily said on Sunday that the US has made open its threats to oppose Syria's membership to the UN Security Council if Syria continues to import the Iraqi oil outside the system of the UN sanctions.

The paper quoted diplomats at the UN as saying that the US opposition for Syria in joining the UN Security Council next year will not be effective because Syria has effectively won the support of the Arab and Asian states.

The paper said that the US under secretary of state Edward Walker said that the US believes that countries which violate the UN resolutions should not be members at the UN Security Council.

He added that the UN had taken the same position with Libya and Sudan, and therefor this will be an important element in Washington's decision towards what should be done towards Syria in backing or not her membership to the UN Security Council.

The paper continued that American officials have recently revealed the US threats to oppose Syria's joining the UN Security Council in February during the tour made by the US secretary of State Colin Powel to the Middle East.