US President George W. Bush increased pressure on Syria last night by demanding it withdraw its troops from Lebanon.
Speaking at a community college in Maryland, Mr Bush demanded Syria give democracy a chance to flourish in Lebanon.
With France solidly aligned with the United States in contrast to France's dissent from the Iraq war Mr Bush said: "The free world is in agreement that Damascus's authority over the political affairs of its neighbor must end."
A senior US official said the administration was seeking pressure on Syria from other Arab states.
US President George W. Bush
In Damascus, however, the Syrian government called US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice haughty and arrogant for describing the ruling Baath party as "out of step with the growing desire for democracy in the Middle East".
In an editorial, the government-run Tishrinnewspaper denounced the UN resolution that urged Syria to withdraw a "US-Zionist plan" that "will not succeed without setting off fires".
Iran and its nuclear weapons programme also drew fresh US criticism.
Dr Rice declared said the United States "cannot be relaxed about Iran" and declined to rule out a US attack. "The president of the United States never categorically rules out anything," she said.
But she said "diplomacy has time to work," and hinted Mr Bush would approve economic overtures by US allies to Iran.
AP
