Washington, Apr 24: A top Syrian spokeswoman spurned US charges that her country has fomented terror, and insisted that lasting peace in Wets Asia can be won only by resolving the Palestinian question. "The only solution to the West Asia is to end occupation and settlement," Syrian foreign ministry spokeswoman Bussaina Shaaban, said during a speech in Washington sponsored by the council on foreign relations. With respect to deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, Shaaban said Syria has never harboured affection for the Iraqi regime. "They sent us explosives and they killed many of our civilian people," she said. Nevertheless, Syria and other West Asian states have been made apprehensive by the outcome of the war in Iraq, she said, and a retroubled by US motives for undertaking the invasion.
"Where are the (weapons of mass destruction) that were such a big reason for launching this war?" she asked.
"What is going to happen to 170,000 pieces from the Baghdad museum that constitutes Baghad's identity and cultural heritage?"
More troubling still is the lack of clarity over US long term intentions in West Asia.
"In the minds of people of the region ... (the war in Iraq) is first step in an attempt to reshape the region," she said.
"They are going to take a right step to Damascus and a left step to Teheran, and they are going to reshape the region." Bureau Report