Syria cuts military cooperation with US

WASHINGTON - Syria says it has ended military and intelligence cooperation with the United States due to "unfair" accusations that it was doing too little to stop foreign fighters from entering neighbouring Iraq.

Imad Moustapha, Syria's ambassador in Washington, said Syria was willing to co-operate with the United States on all levels, including military and intelligence, but not in light of the American accusations. The action reflected a further deterioration in the US-Syrian relationship.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Moustapha's comments were "certainly a step in the wrong direction", noting any cooperation Syria had been providing was "minimal and sporadic".

"I wouldn't say that they've cut off any particular regular and ongoing operation because there just hasn't been regular and ongoing cooperation," Boucher added.

Moustapha said in an interview with CNN: "We are trying to tell the United States, 'We are willing to engage with you constructively. We want a good relationship with you. But you have to stop this unfair media campaign against Syria'."

"We do not want to be cooperating with the Americans on one front while being lambasted and attacked by the Americans on the other front," Moustapha said.

US officials frequently have said Syria has not done enough to prevent foreign fighters from infiltrating across its border with Iraq to join insurgents who are fighting a US-led international force and Iraqi government troops.

For example, Army General John Abizaid, head of US Central Command, said last week: "It's very important that the Syrian government do everything within its power to keep violence from migrating or being planned in Syria into Iraq. ... No, I do not think the Syrian government's doing enough."

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said on Tuesday, "All of our senior folks have talked about the fact that they believe that Syria could and should be doing more." Whitman said Syria had not informed the US government of "any changes to the relationship."

The Pentagon has said there was low-level contact and a fairly routine dialogue between the US military in Iraq and the Syrian government, relating in particular to border issues.

Moustapha said Syria had worked hard to secure its border with Iraq and has offered to work with the United States to improve this cooperation.

"They (the Americans) never agreed to work with us on this, but they find it comfortable to publicly accuse us of not doing enough," Moustapha said.

Moustapha said Syria also had provided the United States with "a wealth of information" on the al Qaeda network, including some that helped prevent two planned attacks against US interests. He was not more specific.

Boucher reiterated a list of accusations against Syria, including its failure to prevent support of Iraqi insurgents and for groups that oppose the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.

Boucher also said the Bush administration was looking for signs Syria, which has withdrawn its troops from Lebanon under international pressure, also had withdrawn its intelligence personnel as demanded by the United Nations. Moustapha said all Syrian military and intelligence personnel had been withdrawn.

A senior State Department official, who asked not to be named, said the US was no longer willing to give Syria much credit for positive moves, such as the troop withdrawal, because it had been uncooperative on most areas.

- REUTERS