Washington, Apr 21: Syria is heeding the United States' warnings not to help or harbour the officials of deposed Iraqi regime, US President George W Bush has said. "There are some positive signs of cooperation from Syria," said Bush yesterday at Fort Hood, Texas.

He said the Syrians were getting the message that they should not harbour Ba’ath Party members and other high ranking Iraqi officials.

"And when we think there is somebody there or know somebody is there, we will of course pass on the name and fully expect the Syrian government to hand the person over," stated the American president. Asked whether he has any idea how many Iraqi leaders are in Syria, Bush said, "Obviously we felt some were there, otherwise we wouldn't have spoken out."

About Iraq, bush said he had been told that the operation in Iraq was complete. The liberation of Iraq, said Bush, would make the world more peaceful.

Asked whether he was worried that the anti-US demonstrations stirred up by religious leaders in Iraq were going to hurt the rebuilding effort, Bush replied he did not think so. He further said, “Freedom is beautiful and when people are free, they express their opinions.” Bureau Report