Bush extends economic sanctions on Syria

Bush extended a ban on certain US exports to Syria and other sanctions that were imposed on May 11, 2004, to "beyond May 11, 2005" but did not specify a date.

Bush accused Syria of supporting terrorism, pursuing weapons of mass destruction, undermining efforts to stabilise Iraq and "continuing its occupation of Lebanon" and said this posed a "continuing, unusual, and extraordinary threat" to the United States.

The United States demanded Syria remove all its troops and intelligence officers from Lebanon after the Feb. 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Syria ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon last week.

The sanctions severed banking relations with the Commercial Bank of Syria, froze the assets of Syrians suspected of involvement in terrorism or WMD development, and prohibited Syrian flights to and from the United States.

AFP adds: Saudi Arabia's crown prince will use his upcoming visit to Syria to ask President Bashar al-Assad to cooperate in stabilising the region and not meddle in Lebanon, after having urged US President George W. Bush to ease pressure on Damascus, aides said Thursday.

Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, de facto ruler of the oil-rich kingdom, is due to hold talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Friday before going to Damascus.

A court official in Amman told AFP Thursday the Saudi prince would also visit the Jordanian capital for a few hours Saturday for talks with King Abdullah II on "the situation in the region and peace prospects in the Middle East."