Speaking at a press conference at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld termed this as a "hostile" act, adding that the US believes the Syrian government is "accountable."

"There's no question but that to the extent that military supplies or equipment or people are moving across the borders between Iraq and Syria, it vastly complicates our situation," he told reporters.

"We have information that shipments of military supplies have been crossing the border from Syria into Iraq, including night vision goggles. These deliveries pose a direct threat to the lives of coalition forces," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2003)