DAMASCUS: Syria, which won a two-year seat on the 15-member United Nations Security Council last year, is keeping a sharp eye out for a hidden trigger that could authorize use of military force against Iraq.

“Any talk about finding a new mechanism for the return of arms inspectors may open the door for military action,” said Dr Buthaina Shaaban, head of the press department at the Syrian Foreign Ministry.

“Syria is working on saving the region from a dangerous new confrontation,” Shaaban added.

Shaaban said Syria would be the voice of the Arab world in the UN.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad strongly criticized US policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and on Iraq in talks last week with US special envoy for the Middle East, William Burns.

“The US administration must act with wisdom because it does not know what will be the repercussions in the Middle East of an attack,” Assad told Burns, assistant secretary of state. “To plunge into the moving sands of Iraq will be more difficult for the US than those of Afghanistan. Nobody will be able to stop such a dangerous attack nor control its outcome.”

The statement reflected a deeper fear that if the United States attacks Iraq, it would go on to impose long-term military control. “People in the Middle East are facing more than just the prospect of war,” said an analyst.

Syria is not alone in challenging the US in the UN Security Council, though it is the sole Arab voice. Russia and France who have veto powers have been introducing rival proposals to eliminate tough US language. But US President George Bush insists a new resolution must have “consequences”.

Negotiations on a new resolution have been continuing since Bush addressed the General Assembly on Sept 12, warning that if the Security Council does not act decisively to disarm Saddam, the US would act on its own.

A resolution would require a minimum of nine votes and no veto from the five permanent members. The 10 elected council members are Bulgaria, Cameroon, Colombia, Guinea, Ireland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Singapore and Syria. —Dawn/InterPress News Service.