Straw denies plans for armed action against Syria

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said that there are no Coalition plans for a military intervention in Syria – despite the more bellicose statements emerging from Whitehouse officials.

At the weekend, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz and Secretary of State Colin Powell all spoke out against Syria – accusing it of developing chemical weapons, harbouring regime officials from Iraq and supporting international terrorism. Iraq, Syria, Iran and North Korea have been described in the past by President Bush as representing an "axis of evil" nations.

Regarding Syria, Mr Wolfowitz said the US "is looking for a change in the current bad behaviour" of that government. He said the Syrians are sending "terrorist fighters" into Iraq, sheltering Iraqi fugitives and "possibly sheltering bad materials out of Iraq".

In an interview with the BBC, Colin Powell said Syria had been "a concern for a long period of time" as they have been "interested in weapons of mass destruction" - the premise for military action against Iraq.

However, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw moved to allay fears that the conflict in the Iraq would be widened to include Syria.

"I made it clear, and I repeat, that Syria is not 'next on the list' and the Prime Minister said at Prime Minister's Questions less than a week ago that he knew of no plans whatever in respect of military action against Syria," Mr Straw said in an interview.

"However what is important is that, in this new and changed climate where we are looking to all members of the international community fully to respect the rules of the international community, Syria fully cooperates over these questions that have been raised."

On future relations with Iran, Mr Straw said: "We want to see good neighbour relations with Iran and we're grateful to the Iranians for the support and cooperation which they gave during the course of this military conflict."

Menzies Campbell MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Foreign Secretary, responding to the increasingly strong US position on Syria, said: “Jack Straw is right to be cautious about adopting the Bush administration agenda towards Syria.

“The British government has invested a great deal of political capital in President Assad. Syria on the other hand must understand that its acceptability in the international community is dependent upon it conducting itself properly.

“But one thing we do not need is loose talk about taking on Syria next.”

(GMcG)