Syria blames US policies for attack
Syria has accused the US of fuelling extremism and terrorism in the Middle East after four attackers stormed the US embassy in Damascus.
The Syrian embassy in Washington said in a statement on Tuesday that US policies in the Middle East have fuelled extremism, terrorism and anti-US sentiment. "What has happened recently in Lebanon, the Palestinian territories and Iraq is exacerbating the fight against global terrorism. Tom Casey, the US State Department deputy spokesman, dismissed the suggestion that US policies were to blame. The Bush administration has previously often vilified Syria, which it says supports the Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, and accuses it of harbouring terrorists and fomenting unrest in Iraq. US praise
The Syrian embassy’s statement came just hours after Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state, and the White House, offered praise for the Syrian security forces for foiling Tuesday’s attack. Rice said during a visit to Canada that she was grateful for the Syria’s actions. The White House emphasised that the incident highlighted the importance of Damascus’ aid in fighting extremism. "We are hoping they will become an ally and make the choice of fighting against terrorists," said Tony Snow, the White House spokesman. The attack Television footage of the scene on Tuesday showed a van packed with gas canisters and detonators taped to them, as well as bloodstains on the pavement and several damaged vehicles, including a white, bullet-riddled car. Ayman Abdel-Nour, a Syrian political commentator who was in the area, said: "I saw two men in plain clothes and armed with grenades and automatic weapons. "They ran toward the compound shouting religious slogans while firing their automatic rifles." The attack, one day after the fifth anniversary of al-Qaeda’s attacks on the US, was the first such shooting and bombing assault on an embassy in Damascus. The official Syrian Arab News Agency said that three assailants were killed in Tuesday’s attack and a fourth was wounded. Eleven bystanders were wounded, including an Iraqi couple and a senior Chinese diplomat. A member of the Syrian security services was killed. The Rawda district where the attack occurred is one of the most heavily guarded parts of the Syrian capital. It houses security installations and the homes of government officials. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/178924DE-2C25-429D-9ABC-81A6599CEF3F.htm
"The US should take this opportunity to review its policies in the Middle East and start looking at the root causes of terrorism, and broker a comprehensive peace in the Middle East," the statement said.
"I would certainly reject the notion that the United States, the international community or anyone working to help bring prosperity, to help bring peace and to help bring democracy to the Middle East, is the cause of violence. It’s clearly the opposite way."
Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus after the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, last year. Syria denied findings of a UN probe which implicated its intelligence services in the killing.
"We appreciate the response of the Syrian security forces to help secure our territory. I was very grateful that the attack did not succeed," she said.
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