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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Syria Faces Fresh UN Resolution |
| 2006-04-28 |
| Syria was back in the international firing line yesterday, facing a new UN resolution over Lebanon and a US asset freeze against suspects in the murder of ex-Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri. Analysts said the latest US action was meant to punish Damascus for its policies toward Lebanon — despite its military pullout last year — and for hosting some top members of Hamas, which now runs the Palestinian government. US President George W. Bush on Tuesday ordered an asset freeze against any suspect found to be involved in Hariri’s assassination in February 2005, in which several top Syrian and Lebanese officials have been implicated by a UN probe. France also said it was preparing a new UN Security Council resolution to urge Syria to answer Lebanese calls for better ties, which have deteriorated markedly since Hariri’s killing and elections which brought an anti-Syrian majority to power. The developments came just as Lebanon marked the first anniversary of the April 26, 2005 pullout of Syrian troops from its soil, ending a near three-decade military presence. “This measure shows that Syria is increasingly under pressure from the United States,” Nadim Shehadeh, researcher at British think-tank Chatham House, said of the Bush sanctions. It was also meant to “ease concerns of some Lebanese whose utmost fear is to see the United States drop Lebanon” from its priorities despite a visit by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora to the White House this month. “Also, with no potential successes in Iraq or Palestine, maybe Bush thinks that Lebanon is the only potential place for some kind of success,” said Shehadeh. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 Not this time, it's marshmallow pop guns for them! |
| Posted by: Captain America 2006-04-28 17:57 |
| #1 Oh, no, stop it I tell you, stop it! We can't take another day of these vicious comfy pillows! |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-04-28 10:33 |