Syria, Iran dismiss US accusation on Lebanon

DAMASCUS, Nov 2 (Reuters) Syria and Iran dismissed today a US accusation that they are trying along with their Lebanese ally Hezbollah to topple Lebanon's government.

''This pure vilification is meant to raise turmoil in Lebanon and cause fallout with Syria, which paid with blood to maintain Lebanese independence and sovereignty,'' an editorial in Syria's government newspaper Baath said.

The White House said yesterday Washington had evidence that Syria, Iran and their allies in the Shi'ite Muslim group were preparing to topple the Beirut government, which is dominated by US-backed politicians.

The comments came a day after Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah gave Prime Minister Fouad Siniora until the middle of this month to agree on the formation of a unity government or face protests demanding a new election.

The Syrian newspaper said the United States ''which claims to know everything'' should make public any evidence of the alleged Syrian role in efforts to topple the Lebanese government.

US officials say the information is classified.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini denied the US accusation and said Washington should review its policies in the WAsia.

''These are repeated claims aimed to create divisions among Lebanese people and their government,'' Hosseini told Reuters.

The United States has no diplomatic ties with Iran and has strained relations with Syria, accusing both countries of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the WAsia. Both countries deny the charges and Iran says its offers only moral support to Hezbollah.

A State Department spokesman said Nasrallah's ultimatum has raised US concerns about the intentions of Hezbollah and other players toward Lebanon, which is still recovering from Israel's 34-day day war with Hezbollah guerrillas in July and August.

Anti-Syrian politicians had dismissed calls for a national unity government, saying such demands were aimed at regaining Syria's influence in Lebanon.

Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Washington's strong support of Siniora's government could prove its undoing.

''Some love is fatal,'' Berri said in a statement. ''Is it (the US statement) meant to defend Lebanon or push it towards constructive chaos? Does it echo concern for the government or incitement against it?'' Berri, a Shi'ite Muslim leader allied to Hezbollah, has called for roundtable talks between Lebanese leaders next week to discuss the formation of a new government.

''Anyway, we reassure the White House that the Lebanese people have enough of a democratic tendency to make them resort to dialogue and consultations rather than to the advice of the protector of Israel which violates international resolutions every day and whose planes never depart our airspace,'' he said.

Syrian forces pulled out of Lebanon after a 29-year presence following last year's assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A UN investigation implicated Syrian security officials in the killing. Damascus, which denies involvement, has deepened its ties with Tehran after facing increasing isolation by the West following the assassination.

REUTERS SSC BD1917