WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush said Wednesday that Damascus needs to withdraw its military from Lebanon and end what he called Syrian intelligence's "heavy-handed" influence over the government in Beirut.
Bush also warned that he and other leaders calling for Syria's withdrawal before May parliamentary elections in Lebanon were working on "steps forward, what do to" in the event Damascus does not comply.
"I'd like to reiterate my call, and that is in order for those elections to be free in Lebanon, the Syrians must remove their troops as well their intelligence services," he said during a joint public appearance with visiting Romanian President Traian Basescu.
"Syrian influence is heavy-handed through the involvement of intelligence services throughout the government, and they must remove both in order for the elections to be free," said Bush.
"And we're working with friends and allies about steps forward, what to do," he told a reporter who asked what Washington would do if Damascus does not bow to mounting global pressure.
Bush also dismissed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's pledge of a partial withdrawal in Lebanon, saying "it is a measure, but it's a half-measure" that does not meet a UN Security Council resolution's call for a "complete removal."
03/09/2005 16:57 GMT