WASHINGTON, Feb 17 (AFP) - The United States favors diplomatic pressure to resolve its differences with Syria and has many options, but has not ruled out military force, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday.
"The president always reserves his options," Rice told a Senate committee when asked about the possibility of an attack on Syria amid rising tensions sparked by the murder of Lebanon's former prime minister Monday.
"However, in this case of Syria we believe that concerted international pressure ... can and should move the Syrians to act" on a UN resolution calling for their withdrawal from Lebanon, Rice said.
The United States has in recent months stepped up its rhetoric against Syria, which it also accuses of backing Iraqi insurgents and Islamic militants seeking to wreck the Middle East peace process.
Washington recalled its ambassador to Syria this week and Rice suggested to the Senate panel Thursday she might consider additional sanctions on top of an initial set imposed last May.
"We believe we have many, many diplomatic tools at our disposal here and although the president always keeps his options open we are employing those tools," she told a budget hearing of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Rice used similar language last week in referring to Iran amid speculation the administration of President George W. Bush was gearing for a military strike at Tehran's suspected nuclear arms facilities.
But she sidestepped a question Thursday on whether Bush would consult with Congress before launching any operation against either Syria or Iran.
"I don't want to speculate on what the president might or might not need," the chief US diplomat said.
She did note, however, that Bush sought congressional approval before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and said "we all understand fully the prerogatives of this body when it comes to war and peace."
"I am quite certain the president would do nothing to violate that trust," she said.
02/17/2005 16:38 GMT - AFP