Iraq-style regime change not appropriate for Syria: Rice

"What we want is to send the Syrians a clear message from everybody that their behavior must change. This means that they should not be in a position to cause instability in Lebanon," the London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper quoted her as saying in an interview given to three Arabic-language newspapers.

Asked whether the US administration would go as far as toppling President Bashar al-Assad's government, she said:

"Every situation is different from the other. Syria is not Iraq and Iraq is not Syria. Iraq was a special case where there was a problem of weapons of mass destruction, backing terrorism and UN (Security Council) resolutions. We were also in a state of war with Iraq.

"The Syrian regime is capable of changing itself, its policies and its behaviour with its neighbours. This is the path we hope they will take," she said.

Washington stepped up its campaign to isolate Damascus on the international stage following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in February.

Lebanese opposition leaders accused Damascus, which then had a strong military presence in Lebanon, of being behind the killing -- a charge it denied.

Syria bowed to pressure to withdraw its troops in April after anti-Syrian protests swept Lebanon.