Powell calls on Syria and Israel to alleviate tension

The US Secretary Of State Colin Powell yesterday called on Syria and Israel to alleviate tensions between them including "verbal" tension.

Powell, said replying to threats addressed by his Syrian counterpart of revenge operations against the Jewish settlements in the occupied Golan heights if Israeli launches another attack against the Syrian territories.

He said "we encourage the two sides to alleviate tension in the country as well as verbal threats." Powell considered that "such statements do not help us nor any side in the region to make progress. These statements just increase tension."

Powell added "I want to encourage the two sides to avoid this kind of verbal threats."