Al-Assad expects American war, rejects to withdraw from Lebanon, instantly

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad compared in press statements the American pressures against his country to what had happened with Baghdad's government prior to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, stressing he expects an American war against his country since the end of Iraq's war.

In an interview published by the Italian daily "La Republica" issued on Monday, al-Assad considered that the US is in need of Syria because of its pivotal role in the Middle East peace process and stability on Iraq.

The Syrian president also stressed that his country's potentials do not permit total control on 500 Km of desert borders ( with Iraq), noting that this border constitutes a danger on Syria.

He stressed he had received one official from the US defense department and discussed the issue with the US secretary of state, stressing that he asked Washington for "night goggles and radar system similar to those the Americans use on the borders with Mexico."

The Syrian president also proposed in October 2004 the formation of joint Syrian- American patrols along the Syrian- Iraqi borders and that he is still waiting for the American answer. Al-Assad renewed denial of Syria's involvement in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri. He said that Damascus's carrying out of such act is considered a "political suicide" and that Syria is not one of the beneficiaries of killing of Hariri.

Hariri added that his country does not intend to withdraw its forces from Lebanon shortly. He said that the return of these forces can not be technically made before the end of the current year. From the strategic view point, he said that this will not happen before Damascus getting serious guarantees concerning peace.