Bush turns heat on Syria

US President George W. Bush demanded yesterday that Syria pull its security services as well as its army out of Lebanon, echoing France's remarks that Syrian intelligence controlled the country.

But Mr Bush said that before seeking UN sanctions, Washington would see how Syria responded to international clamour for it to quit Lebanon, which has grown louder since a massive bomb killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri last week.

"We will see how they (the Syrians) respond before there are any further discussions about going back to the United Nations," Mr Bush told a news conference with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Mainz, Germany.

In Beirut, opposition deputies, riding high on mass protests against Hariri's killing over the past week, piled on the pressure, saying they would try to topple the Syrian-backed government in parliament and calling for a one-day national strike next week.

"Opposition MPs confirm that they will seek a no-confidence vote in the government during (the February 28) general assembly meeting" called to discuss the assassination, they said in a statement after a meeting of 38 MPs.

The statement called for a strike on Monday, the day of the parliamentary meeting.

Washington has cranked up pressure on Lebanon's "oppressive neighbour" Syria over the past week, recalling its Damascus ambassador. But along with France it has stopped short of blaming Damascus for Mr Hariri's death, with 17 others, when a huge bomb ripped through his motorcade.

Iran, Syria's main ally, accused the US of interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs and advised the Lebanese people not to be deceived by Mr Bush's comments.