"Seems like they're beginning to get the message. And when we think there's somebody there, or know somebody's there we, of course, will pass on the name and fully expect the Syrian government to hand the person over," Bush said after attending an Easter service at Ford Hood, a US Army base in Texas.

"The Syrian government has heard us, and I believe it when they say they want to cooperate with us," Bush said, adding that he saw "positive signs" of Damascus' cooperation in hunting down fleeing Iraqi leaders and their family members.

Accusing Syria of providing assistance for Iraq during the war and offering refuge for fleeing Iraqi leaders, the Bush administration has recently escalated rhetoric against Damascus, urging it to change "behavior" or face accountability.

Syria has rejected the US allegations but said it will cooperate with the United States for the interests of the Iraqi people.

(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2003)