Syrian official denounces act

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Syria's top diplomat in Washington spoke of misunderstandings between his country and the United States at the National Press Club Wednesday.

Imad Moustapha, Syrian chargé d'affaires in the U.S. addressed the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 which President Bush signed into law Dec. 12. After being approved by the House, the bill was passed in the Senate by all bar four votes.

The Syria Accountability Act imposes economic sanctions on Damascus for what the United States claims to be continued Syrian support of "terrorist organizations," its occupation of Lebanon, and development and possession of weapons of mass destruction.

Syria rejects the claims. It calls the groups "liberation movements," says it presence in Lebanon is by mutual consent with Lebanese authorities and denies being in possession of WMD.

Moustapha referred to the new bill act as "a bizarre Congressional act."

He asserted that Syria closed down the office of the Palestinian Resistance Movement, known as Hamas and asked the U.N. Security Council to officially declare the absence of weapons of mass destruction in Syria and the rest of the Middle East.

He called for a comprehensive solution the Middle East peace process, saying, "The violence in the Middle East is caused by this ongoing occupation, this ongoing humiliation of the Palestinian people."