 | | "I'm a dictator. I'm the son of a dictator. They're gonna come and get me and string me up. I've never even been in an outdoor toilet, much less hidden at the bottom of one..." |
A senior US official called on Saturday for action from Syria to prove it was changing its attitude regarding Lebanon, Iraq and its alleged support of terrorism, warning of further sanctions if no change was forthcoming.
| "Don't make us come in there!" |
"There are many issues that raise concern about Syria's attitude towards Lebanon, Iraq and terrorism," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield was quoted as telling Lebanon's leading An-Nahar newspaper. "We want to see Syria take concrete measures because words are not enough." Washington in May imposed economic sanctions on Syria for its alleged support of terrorism, purported efforts to obtain mass destruction weapons and failing to crack down on infiltration of insurgents into Iraq. Damascus has rejected the charges. "The American president has available a number of measures he could take and which would have an effect on the United States' economic, financial and commercial relations with Syria," Satterfield warned. "The United States is extremely worried by the current situation in Lebanon because of Syrian interference," he added. The UN Security Council in September passed Resolution 1559, sponsored by the United States and France, demanding that Damascus pull its estimated 15,000 troops out of Lebanon and end what it saw as meddling in the affairs of its neighbour.
The 15-member UN Security Council issued a further statement Tuesday calling again on Damascus to comply with the resolution, a call rejected outright by Syria and Lebanon as "interference". "Lebanon and its political leaders must make their decisions in freedom, far from external interference or threats," Satterfield said. Lebanon's prime minister Rafiq Hariri resigned on Wednesday, with his pro-Damascus arch-foe Omar Karameh almost immediately called upon to form a new government, a move sharply criticised by Washington. |