US to hit curbs on Syria; Russia helped Iraq missile program

By: Mohamed Ali

CRAWFORD, Texas: Washington will soon impose sanctions on Damascus under a 2003 law allowing President Bush to punish the country for alleged support of radical groups and weapons programs.

“It's coming,” said a White House official while speaking on condition of anonymity. The official would not say what kind of sanctions would be imposed or when they might take effect.

The US Congress had approved in November 2003 economic and diplomatic sanctions against Syria. Bush signed the legislation, called the “Syria Accountability Act,” into law in late December.

The law demands that Syria end its alleged support for terrorism, halt development of chemical and biological arms and medium and long-range missiles, and withdraw troops it has deployed in Lebanon.

Separately, US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said weapons-hunters in Iraq have found evidence that experts from Russia and other countries helped with Iraq's missile programs, but it is unclear whether those countries' governments played any role.

The officials said the Bush administration would compile information it has obtained and eventually present it to those countries. In addition to Russia, officials found signs that experts from Ukraine, Serbia and Belarus may have been involved.

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