Bush renews economic sanctions on Syria

The US president George W. Bush renewed the economic sanctions imposed by his administration against Syria in 2004, accusing Damascus of supporting what he called terrorism, developing mass destruction weapons, and undermining the efforts aiming to achieve stability in Iraq.

Bush extended the embargo imposed on certain American exports to Syria and other sanctions imposed on May 11, 2004 until after "May 11, 2005," but did not set a date.

Bush had imposed these sanctions in the course of what is called "Syria's Accountability Act." According to these sanctions relations were severed with the Syrian commercial bank and assets for Syrians suspected of being involved in terrorism or developing mass destruction weapons were frozen. Syrian air flights were banned to the USA and from it to Syria. Also banned was the exportation of commodity and ammunition from the USA to Syria with the exception of foodstuffs and medicines.

In addition to accusing Syria of supporting terrorism and having mass destructions weapons as well as violating stability in Iraq, Bush added a new accusation on Syria "continued occupation of Lebanon." He said that this constitutes continued threat to the USA.