Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is going to deliver a speech at the People’s Assembly on Saturday afternoon, SANA said Friday. "President Assad’s word will deal with standing political developments," <i>SANA</i> added, likely referring to the current crisis regarding the Syrian presence in Lebanon.
Earlier, Syria denied what was reported by Reuters News Agency on the talks held between al-Assad and Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdulaziz on Thursday, asserting "Talks are fruitful and constructive….and Reuters news is baseless".
SANA stressed that discussions were fruitful within a very friendly atmosphere just as were depicted by the Saudi News Agency. "The rejection to name the Saudi official confirms the incredibility of the news," SANA said. Following a brief visit to Riyash by President Assad, Reuters said, quoting a Saudi official, Abdullah told Syria that it has to pull out its troops from Lebanon soon or else the Syrian- Saudi relations will face difficulties.
These developments come as the U.S.-sponsored Al Hurra TV network was quoted as saying on Friday the Pentagon is convinced that air strikes on Syria have become necessary to overthrow the Assad regime, liberate Lebanon and stop support of fighters waging attacks against American forces in Iraq as well as Palestinian groups against Israel, .
"Political action to deal with the problem of Syria's presence in Lebanon and its support of terrorism against Israel and Iraq is no longer deemed effective," Al Hurra quoted American intelligence sources as saying, according to Lebanon's slain ex-Premier Rafic al Hariri's Al Mustaqbal newspaper.
"Diplomacy as a means to deal with countries supporting terrorism is over and out. The situation is now open to all options as far as Syria is concerned," the sources were quoted as saying.
"Resolving problems with Syria now requires changing the Syrian regime or mounting air attacks similar to those staged against Afghanistan and Sudan in August 1998 to completely destroy terrorist centers and groups," the U.S. intelligence sources were quoted as saying.
"The U.S. central command for Iraq and Afghanistan is closely following the situation in Lebanon and Syria and senior Pentagon officials are now convinced that hitting terrorist targets in Syria is needed," Al Hurra said.
"The elimination of Syrian-supported terrorism groups is now deemed 'strategically vital' for stability in the Middle east, particularly Iraq, which is unattainable at present under the current Syrian regime," the station said.
