Syrian MP seeks U.S. aid to patrol border

Malaysia Sun Saturday 13th December, 2003

A member of Syria's parliament says his country ought to share the burden of patrolling the Syria-Iraq border with the United States.

George Jabbour, in comments published Saturday in Jordan's daily al-Rai, said that maintaining security on the 300-mile Syria-Iraq border is a responsibility that should be shared equally by both Syrian and U.S. forces.

Jabbour, a former advisor to late Syrian President Hafez Assad, warned against a U.S. strike against his country, warning that a confrontation would have catastrophic consequences.

Syria does not wish to confront the enraged bull, he said in reference to the United States.

He said Palestinian groups based in Damascus were not involved in terrorism and that their activities in the Syrian capital were strictly limited to politics and information.

The U.S. Congress recently passed the Syria Accountability Act stipulating economic and diplomatic sanctions on Damascus on charges of harboring Palestinian organizations, which Washington accuses of being involved in terrorism.