US worried about Syria's Lebanon 'hit list'

"What we don't want is that there is a pattern now of assassination of key figures, because that would be very, very destabilising in Lebanon, and I think it would have to point a finger at those forces that have been destabilising in Lebanon," Rice said in an interview with Charlie Rose on PBS.

Bush administration officials say the United States has received "credible" word that Syria has developed a "hit list" targeting prominent Lebanese political leaders, The New York Times and The Washington Post reported on their Web sites.

Both newspapers cited a senior administration official as saying Syria's plan was aimed at creating instability in an attempt to regain control of Lebanon.