US grievances against Syria mean pressure will not ease

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US grievances against Syria mean pressure will not ease
By Guy Dinmore in Washington
Published: May 2 2005 03:00 | Last updated: May 2 2005 03:00

The US will keep up pressure on Syria long after the withdrawal of its forces from Lebanon, US officials say, outlining a policy that analysts believe is aimed at destabilising the regime led by President Bashar al- Assad.


Responding to last week's withdrawal, the Bush administration alleged that not all Syrian intelligence forces had quit Lebanon. It insisted that Syria keep out of Lebanon's elections this month and allow the "disbanding and disarming" of militia forces in Lebanon.

For the moment the US has no plans to send its ambassador, Margaret Scobey, back to Damascus. She was recalled in February after the assassination in Beirut of Rafiq Hariri, the former prime minister.

"She will return to Damascus when we feel it's useful for her to return," a State Department spokesman said.



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