USA VS. SYRIA

AFP: US Syria Bill Could Lead To Invasion - Sen Byrd

A tough sanctions measure approved by Congress against Syria could lead to a future invasion of the country, a prominent US lawmaker has said.

Senator Robert Byrd, an outspoken critic of US Middle East policy, said on Tuesday that he feared the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act would be used to justify future military action against Damascus.

"The United States is justified in seeking to apply political and economic pressure on Syria to change its foreign policy," the West Virginia Democrat said.

But he highlighted one particular section of the bill that referred to "hostile actions" by Syria against US-led forces in Iraq.