BRUSSELS, Feb 21 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush demanded Monday an end to Syria's "occupation" of Lebanon, saying the country's people "have the right to be free."
He said that Lebanon, which is reeling after the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri last week, was "a once thriving country that now suffers under the influence of an oppressive neighbour."
Bush underlined that Syria must take stronger action to stop those who support violence in Iraq and "end its support for terrorist groups seeking to destroy the hope of peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
"Syria must also end its occupation of Lebanon. The Lebanese people have the right to be free, and the United States and Europe share an interest in an democratic, independent Lebanon," he said.
Recalling recent elections in Afghanistian, the Palestinian territories and Iraq, he said: "Without Syrian interference, Lebanon's parliamentary elections in the spring can be another milestone of liberty."
His comments, in a keynote address in Brussels, came as thousands gathered in Beirut a week after the killing of Hariri in a bomb attack. The Lebanese opposition accuses Syria of having a hand in the blast.
The remarks also came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was said to be willing to withdraw Syrian troops from neighbouring Lebanon in line with the Taef accords that ended the civil war there.
Arab League chief Amr Mussa said that during a meeting with Assad the Syrian leader "expressed his firm desire, more than once, to continue implementing the Taef accord and to withdraw from Lebanon in keeping with this agreement."
02/21/2005 14:24 GMT - AFP