US President George W. Bush warned Syria last night to shut its borders to fleeing followers of Saddam Hussein and turn over any who have already found "safe haven" in Iraq's western neighbor.
"We expect them to do everything they can to prevent people who should be held to account from escaping in their country," he said after meeting for the first time at two area military hospitals with US soldiers wounded in Iraq.
"And it they are in their country, we expect the Syrian authorities to turn them over to the proper folks," said Mr Bush.
"We strongly urge them (Syrian leaders) not to allow for Baath party members, or Saddam's families, or generals on the run, to seek safe haven and find safe haven there," said Mr Bush.
Syria "just needs to know we expect full cooperation," he said.
Syria's official press accused the United States today of fueling insecurity in Iraq by methodically destroying the country's institutions in order to demonstrate that Iraqis cannot govern themselves.
"It is worrisome that Iraq has entered into a state of anarchy and insecurity in the absence of a central authority capable of imposing order and protecting citizens and public and private property," the Tishrin daily wrote.
The "occupiers have worked and are working with all their might to dismantle the structures and companies of the state and force Iraq into the unknown," it added.
For its part, Ath-Thawra accused Washington, "intoxicated by its momentary victory, of encouraging the insecurity and the fires ravaging Iraqi institutions to show the world the Iraqi people are incapable of assuming their responsibilities."
AFP