Despite U.S. accusations that Syria was harboring Iraqi leaders and developing chemical weapons, Syria would not be a target of US military campaign, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar said Tuesday.
Aznar made the remarks after holding talks with his Polish counterpart, Leszek Miller, the Polish news agency reported. Both men are staunch supporters of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Syria has been and will be a friend of Spain, said Aznar, adding that he was convinced the conflict in Iraq will not spill over to any other country in the region.
He said he would make a phone call to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Tuesday or Wednesday to persuade him not to provide a safe haven for leaders of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's government. He stressed that the phone conversation is not aimed at laying pressure on Syria.
Aznar is a firm ally of US President George W. Bush on Iraq, but is opposed to war with Syria. In a telephone conversation with Aznar on Monday, Bush asked Aznar to persuade Syria not to harbor senior Iraqi leaders, nor conceal weapons of mass destruction for Iraq.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2003)
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