Midav
09-13-2004, 01:34 AM
By israelinsider staff September 12, 2004
"It seems to me that Syria does bear some responsibility" for the double suicide bombing in Beer Sheva on August 31, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Friday. "Syria must withdraw its forces from Lebanon," said Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East William J. Burns in Damascus. Media reports suggested that Syria will make a "historic announcement" about redeployment in Lebanon following an American ultimatum.
In an interview with Egypt TV, Armitage was asked if Syria "should be held accountable" for the Beer Sheva attacks, which killed 16 Israelis and wounded more than 100. "Why not? Syria holds and houses Hamas. Syria is a conduit of weapons from Iran to Hizbullah. It seems to me that Syria does bear some responsibility," Armitage replied.
But Armitage stopped short of endorsing an Israeli strike on Syria. "That I didn't say. You asked me should they be held accountable, and I said they bore some responsibility," Armitage said.
Israeli officials had previously hinted that Israel might stage military actions within Syria as a response to the Beer Sheva attacks. According to media reports, Israel had provided the United States with "concrete evidence" of Syria's involvement in the attacks.
Recent media reports have indicated that Hamas leaders based in Damascus, who allegedly directed and financed the Beer Sheva attacks, have gone underground in fear of an Israeli reprisal.
Meanwhile, Burns canceled a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories and instead held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Burns said he underlined Washington's "deep concern over Syrian intervention in the Lebanese political process."
"In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1559, Syria must end its interference in Lebanese internal affairs, withdraw its forces from Lebanon, and allow the Lebanese armed forces and government to establish their authority throughout Lebanon," Burns told reporters after his two-hour meeting with Assad.
Burns said he told Assad that Syria "must take steps to halt the activities of states, individuals, and organizations operating on and from Syrian territory and in Lebanon that facilitate and direct violence and terror."
The UN Security Council earlier this month adopted a resolution, drafted by the United States and France, calling on all foreign forces to leave Lebanon, militias to disband and foreign governments to respect Lebanese sovereignty.
Burns' deputy Elizabeth Dibble was quoted as saying in an interview with the Beirut-based As-Safir that the U.S. is considering additional sanctions against Syria, in accordance with the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, if it ignores the UN resolution.
Political analysts said that the statements made by Burns included "illicit threats" against Syria and an ultimatum for Syrian compliance with the Security Council resolution, media sources reported.
Army Radio reported today that Syria will this week make an "historic announcement" as a result of the "ultimatum" presented to Assad by Burns.
The Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported that Syria is planning to redeploy its troops in Lebanon within two days, removing 10,000 of its 18,000 troops stationed there.
Israel insider (http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ArticlePage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El4114&enZone=Diplomacy&enVersion=0&)
"It seems to me that Syria does bear some responsibility" for the double suicide bombing in Beer Sheva on August 31, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said on Friday. "Syria must withdraw its forces from Lebanon," said Assistant Secretary of State for the Near East William J. Burns in Damascus. Media reports suggested that Syria will make a "historic announcement" about redeployment in Lebanon following an American ultimatum.
In an interview with Egypt TV, Armitage was asked if Syria "should be held accountable" for the Beer Sheva attacks, which killed 16 Israelis and wounded more than 100. "Why not? Syria holds and houses Hamas. Syria is a conduit of weapons from Iran to Hizbullah. It seems to me that Syria does bear some responsibility," Armitage replied.
But Armitage stopped short of endorsing an Israeli strike on Syria. "That I didn't say. You asked me should they be held accountable, and I said they bore some responsibility," Armitage said.
Israeli officials had previously hinted that Israel might stage military actions within Syria as a response to the Beer Sheva attacks. According to media reports, Israel had provided the United States with "concrete evidence" of Syria's involvement in the attacks.
Recent media reports have indicated that Hamas leaders based in Damascus, who allegedly directed and financed the Beer Sheva attacks, have gone underground in fear of an Israeli reprisal.
Meanwhile, Burns canceled a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories and instead held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus. Burns said he underlined Washington's "deep concern over Syrian intervention in the Lebanese political process."
"In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1559, Syria must end its interference in Lebanese internal affairs, withdraw its forces from Lebanon, and allow the Lebanese armed forces and government to establish their authority throughout Lebanon," Burns told reporters after his two-hour meeting with Assad.
Burns said he told Assad that Syria "must take steps to halt the activities of states, individuals, and organizations operating on and from Syrian territory and in Lebanon that facilitate and direct violence and terror."
The UN Security Council earlier this month adopted a resolution, drafted by the United States and France, calling on all foreign forces to leave Lebanon, militias to disband and foreign governments to respect Lebanese sovereignty.
Burns' deputy Elizabeth Dibble was quoted as saying in an interview with the Beirut-based As-Safir that the U.S. is considering additional sanctions against Syria, in accordance with the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, if it ignores the UN resolution.
Political analysts said that the statements made by Burns included "illicit threats" against Syria and an ultimatum for Syrian compliance with the Security Council resolution, media sources reported.
Army Radio reported today that Syria will this week make an "historic announcement" as a result of the "ultimatum" presented to Assad by Burns.
The Lebanese newspaper An-Nahar reported that Syria is planning to redeploy its troops in Lebanon within two days, removing 10,000 of its 18,000 troops stationed there.
Israel insider (http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ArticlePage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enDispWho=Article%5El4114&enZone=Diplomacy&enVersion=0&)