| US Congress
subcommittee blasts Syrian occupation of Lebanon WASHINGTON, March 2 (AFP) - A US House of Representatives subcommittee on
Wednesday approved a resolution blasting the Syrian occupation of Lebanon, and called on
President George W. Bush to tighten the screws on Damascus.
The resolution, introduced by Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, expresses "the grave
concern of Congress" regarding Syria's occupation of Lebanon.
The resolution describes Lebanon as a "captive country" and states that Syria's
occupation "represents a long-term threat to the security of the Middle East, as well
as US efforts "to promote political and economic liberalization in the region."
It urges Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to order the US ambassador to the
United Nations to "present and secure" a UN Security Council resolution
"classifying Lebanon as a 'captive country.'"
The resolution also calls "for the immediate release of all Lebanese detainees in
Syria and Lebanon," and for Bush to "freeze all assets in the United States
belonging to Lebanese government officials who are found to support and aid" Syria's
occupation of Lebanon.
On Wednesday Bush publicly urged Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon and to let
"democracy to have a chance to flourish," and welcomed cooperation with France
on the issue.
The February 14 assassination of Lebanese former prime minister Rafiq Hariri has led to a
harder line by Washington and Paris against Damascus, along with joint calls for Syria to
withdraw its troops. |
