Bush sanctions Syria for alleged terror ties

By Los Angeles Times

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The sanctions also ban Syrian airlines from flying to or from the United States (although none currently do), restrict relations between U.S. banks and the Syrian national bank and authorize the U.S. Treasury Department to freeze assets of Syrian nationals allegedly involved in terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, occupation of Lebanon or terrorism in Iraq.

The sanctions come during a difficult period. Spurts of violence shattered the usual calm in Syria this year when Kurdish riots swept the country, and militants staged an attack in the heart of Damascus' diplomatic quarter.

In December, Congress passed the Syrian Accountability Act to prod President Bashar Assad's regime to fall in line with American policy. Syria was criticized for allegedly allowing Arab guerrillas to slip over the Iraqi border to join the anti-American insurgency. Americans also accused Syria of developing weapons of mass destruction, particularly chemical and biological weapons.

The U.S. long has criticized Syria for harboring members of Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and for supporting Lebanon-based Hezbollah. Syria insists that the organizations only keep media offices in Damascus.

The practical effect of the new sanctions is mostly symbolic. Diplomatic relations will not be cut and Bush said in his message to Congress he would waive the sanctions for products such as telecommunication equipment and aircraft parts, in addition to the exemptions for food and medicine.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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