SARAJEVO - Visiting Iranian President Mohammad Khatami warned Tuesday of growing pressure against countries which oppose "Zionist" interests, citing US demands for Syria to pull its troops out of Lebanon as an example.
"The groups and governments which oppose the interests of Zionists and their occupation policy will be put under more pressure and described as problematic," Khatami told journalists without elaborating.
However, Khatami stressed that "what the people of Lebanon accept we will respect."
"However, outside forces are involved in this and use any opportunity to protect the interests of the Zionist regime (Israel), against the independence and sovereignty of the countries of the region," he stressed.
Washington, France and the European Union have stepped up pressure on Syria to withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1559 which demands an end to foreign interference in Lebanon.
Syria on Monday pledged to pull back its troops in Lebanon towards the eastern Bekaa Valley by the end of March.
Iranian officials have complained that the pressure on Damascus is a veiled bid by the United States to boost the position of Israel, Iran's stated arch-enemy.
In Washington US President George W. Bush demanded in a speech Tuesday that Syria and Iran "stop using murder as a tool of policy" and end any support for terrorist groups.
Khatami, who arrived on Tuesday for a two-day visit to Bosnia met with members of the country's tripartite presidency, as well as Prime Minister Adnan Terzic and Foreign Minister Mladen Ivanic.
03/08/2005 21:12 GMT