Syria Brushes Off Remarks on Troops

Syria distanced itself from a top Lebanese official’s suggestion that Syrian troops might be deployed at the Israeli-Lebanese border after an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon. Lebanese Defense Minister Ghazi Zaytar’s remarks had alarmed Israel. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk Shareh, on a visit to Beirut, made it clear that Syria did not endorse Zaytar’s suggestion. “I think it is wrong for some of us to make some statements, even if emanating from personal sympathy, that will reflect negatively or from which Israel benefits to push matters toward an unpeaceful direction,” Shareh said after meeting with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.