Secretary of State Colin Powell said the United States was not looking for "trouble" with Syria but urged it to end its alleged support for "terrorist" groups and suspected development of weapons of mass destruction.
Powell voiced concern at some of President Bashar al-Assad's policies and called Damascus to follow the example of Libya which has pledged to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs.
"We have not characterized Syria as one of the members of the axis of evil but we are concerned about some of Syria's policies with respect to supporting terrorist activity, with respect of what they might be doing with weapons of mass destruction," Powell told Britain's Sky News.
"We have made it clear to the Syrians that we are not looking for trouble with them but that it is time for them to stop supporting terrorist activities that inflame the Middle East," Powell said.
"They should follow the example of other nations in the region, especially Libya," he conveyed.
"I would hope that Syria would review its policies in light of the changed situation in Iraq and the rest of the region," he commented.
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
