MOSCOW, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Syria's envoy to Russia Wednesday dismissed accusations made by Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice that Damascus is a supporter of terrorism.
On Tuesday, Rice threatened Damascus with sanctions and long-term worsening of bilateral relations if Syria did not stop interfering in the internal affairs of Iraq and supporting terrorism. However, Syria's ambassador to Russia, Wahib Fadel, denied the claim in comments to the Interfax news agency.
"That is absolute nonsense. Such a policy relies on the principle of diktat without any justifying reasons, instead of logic or reason," Fadel told Interfax.
Syrian intelligence has cooperated closely with U.S. agencies in combating al-Qaida and other terror groups over the past three years. But relations have deteriorated in recent months amid U.S. and Iraqi claims that guerrilla groups in Iraq were operating out of Syrian territory.
