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| Syria-Lebanon |
| Syrian FM: Damascus wants to avoid escalating tensions with US |
| 2003-06-30 |
| Syria's foreign minister said Sunday that Damascus wants to avoid escalating tensions with Washington and is quietly seeking the return of five Syrian border guards injured and taken by U.S. soldiers during a battle on the Iraqi border. During the June 18 border clash, U.S. forces attacked what they suspected were fleeing top officials of Saddam Hussein's deposed regime. "This subject has had media attention more than it deserved," Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said, adding that Syria "wanted to follow quiet diplomacy through diplomatic channels." Hummmmmm According to AP, the minister said Syrian and U.S. officials were discussing the fate of the five soldiers, three of whom were seriously injured and taken to a military hospital in Baghdad. The others were treated in western Iraq. "Contacts are under way between the two sides, and we hope to reach positive results for a satisfactory solution to this problem, away from any escalation or misunderstanding between Syria and America," al-Sharaa said during a news conference Sunday with visiting Irish Foreign Minister Brian Cowen in the northern city of Aleppo. Syria is being very quiet about this, something is up. |
| Posted by:Steve |