Washingon doubts Syria's calls for peace

The US Department Of State doubted the Syrian stances which show Damascus readiness to maintain a peaceful settlement in the region and expressed Washington's concern over " the Syrian support to organizations involved in terrorism esecially the Hizbullah party."

The Spokesman for the department Richard Boucher said " certainly, we will welcome any real readiness for moving forward concerning peace with Israel and in the region." But he criticized the contradiction between " this sort of statements and the support given to the groups of violence which try to kill the dreams of the Palestinians and violating any hopes for peace." Boucher said that Washington is very concerned " over the Syrian material and financial support for organizations involved in terrorism especially Hizbullah."

The Syrian ambassador in Washington Imad Mustafa said in an intervew with the " Jewish Telegraph agency" that the majority of the Syrians and the Israelis want peace and that when a peace agreement is signed this means the end of war and the exchange of diplomatic relations and opening up of borders.

Meanwhile, 12 members at the US Congress urged the US Department Of State to pressure Damascus in order to release immediately the human rights activist Aktham Neiseh. This was expressed in a message extended to the US secretary of state Colin Powell.