Washington, Apr 15: Secretary of State Colin Powell, seeking to tone down hawkish rhetoric toward Syria, today said the United States has expressed concerns about Syrian actions, but has no plan for a military move against the Damascus government. In an appearance at the Foreign Press Center, Powell said Iraq was ``a unique case`` that required US military action. He rejected the suggestion that the administration as a list of countries against whom it might also retaliate militarily. ``There is no list, there is no war plan,`` he said Powell acknowledged that the administration has informed both Syria and Iran that their actions during the Iraq war were not helpful. He specifically cited reports that Syria has given sanctuary to Iraqis wanted for human rights crimes.

The administration accused Syria of sponsoring terrorism and harboring remnants of Saddam Hussein`s Iraqi regime and told Damascus to stop it or face diplomatic or economic sanctions.
``It is time to sign on to a different kind of middle east,`` National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said yesterday as Syria took another public pasting from the administration.

In New York, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he was ``concerned that recent statements directed at Syria should not contribute to a wider destabilization in a region already affected heavily by the war in Iraq.``
Bureau Report