DAMASCUS, Sept 20: Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam said on Saturday that Syria would not bow to US pressure at the expense of its

policies, especially on the Israe-li-Palestinian conflict and the United States occupation of

Iraq.

“These pressure are useless and totally in vain,” Mr Khaddam told a press conference in Damascus.

“We are sure that such pressure will not have a negative impact on us. We will endure them with patience because Syria cannot sell off the causes which it supports,” he said.

Mr Khaddam insisted that Syria’s policies posed no threat to the security and stability of the United States.

“Syria has territories occupied (by Israel) and concerns such as the Palestinian cause and the cause of Iraq are factors which United States politicians should take into account,” he said.

For Damascus, he said, it was important that Iraq recovered its sovereignty and independence. “This is in our interest. The interests of the Americans lie elsewhere,” he said. without elaborating.

The United States on Tuesday warned Syria that it would be held accountable for any attempts to acquire or market weapons of mass destruction and its links to extremist groups.

The White House put Syria on guard after a top State Department official said the Middle East country was a growing threat to international security and a concern to the United States.—APP