Sharon made the remarks in an interview with the country's private Channel Two television station, saying the suspicion was based on unconfirmed information, which has no evidence to support yet.

Israel is trying to verify the information, Sharon added.

Syria, which took part in the 1991 Gulf War that drove Iraq from Kuwait, has since rebuilt ties with Baghdad after decades of rivalry.

The Israeli allegation came as Iraq repeatedly stated that its nuclear, chemical and biological weapons programme have already been destroyed while the United States has threatened to disarm Iraq by force if Baghdad does not obey concerned UN resolutions.

UN weapons inspectors returned to Iraq last month after a four-year hiatus and has been searching for alleged weapons of mass destruction.

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2002)