Syria's Assad Tells Newspaper That U.S. Might Attack

Reuters | February 28 2005

ROME (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said in an interview published Monday that he thought the United States might attack his country, but did not believe a strike was imminent.

Assad told Italy's la Repubblica newspaper that Syria wanted stability in the region, and insisted it had no hand in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri on Feb. 14 or in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv Friday.

Relations between Washington and Damascus, poor for years, have deteriorated further since the killing of Hariri, and the United States has warned it may press for international sanctions against Syria.

"Washington has imposed sanctions on us and isolated us in the past, but each time the circle hasn't closed around us," Assad told la Repubblica.

"If, however, you ask me if I'm expecting an armed attack (from the United States), well I've seen it coming since the end of the war in Iraq. It's from then that tensions have been rising," he added.

Asked if a "settling of scores" was imminent, Assad said: "I don't think so, for now it's just skirmishing. True, the White House language, if looked at in detail, leads one to expect a campaign similar to the one that led up to attack on Iraq."

Rather than viewing Syria as an enemy, Assad said his country was a vital peace partner and force for stability.

"Sooner or later they will realize that we are the key to the solution. We are essential for the peace process, for Iraq. Look, perhaps one day the Americans will come and knock on our door," he was quoted as saying.

WITHDRAWAL

The Lebanese opposition has blamed Syria for Hariri's killing and, backed by the United States and former colonial power France, has called for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

Assad rejected accusations of involvement in the killing. "For us it would be like political suicide," he said.

He indicated Syria would take its time to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.