London: US Secretary of State Colin Powell on April 13 warned Syria against offering
safe haven to fleeing members of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's regime.
"We think it will be very unwise if, suddenly, Syria becomes a haven for all these
people who should be brought to justice, who are trying to get out of Baghdad,"
Powell said in a BBC television interview.
Syria had been a concern in Washington "for a long period of time", Powell said,
alleging that Damascus was a state sponsor of "terrorism" and a supplier of military
supplies to Saddam's regime.
"And so are making this point clearly and in a very direct manner to the Syrians,"
he told the "Breakfast with Frost" program. "We hope the Syrians will respond
accordingly."
On April 11 US President George Bush urged Damascus to close its border with Iraq to
prevent followers of Saddam crossing into Syria and asked it to turn over any who
might already have taken refuge in the country.
Powell said the course of events in Iraq, which US and British forces invaded on
March 20, would set an example to other nations with harsh regimes. He cited Iran
and North
Korea, which Bush has said belong to an "axis of evil" with oil-rich Iraq.
"One of the good things that will come out of what has happened in Iraq is that Iraq
can become an example ... of a nation that can now use its treasure to develop an
economic system and a political system that will make them welcomed into the family
of nations and become a responsible player in the region," he said.
