Prometheus 6

American Envoy Says Syria Assists Training of Terrorists
By JOEL BRINKLEY

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 - The United States ambassador to Iraq lashed out at Syria on Monday, saying that its government continued to allow terrorists to operate training camps within Syria that have sent hundreds of insurgents into Iraq.

"Our patience is running out," said the ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad.

While other administration officials made similar accusations early this year, the focus of American attention to Syria in recent months has been its occupation ofLebanon. Over the summer, Syria said that it had cracked down on insurgents operating within its territory.

But Mr. Khalilzad, in remarks to reporters in Washington, made it clear that the United States believed that Syria was providing assistance to insurgents operating in Iraq and that such help might have increased.

Government-controlled Syrian newspapers "glorify the terrorists as resistance fighters," he said. Syrian authorities "allow youngsters misguided by Al Qaeda - fromSaudi Arabia, from Yemen , from North Africa - to fly into Damascus International Airport," attend training camps and then cross into Iraq, he contended.

Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States, called Mr. Khalilzad's allegations "100 percent rubbish," and said Syria had repeatedly invited American and Iraqi officials to discuss the problem and find solutions. But, he added, neither country had responded.