US renews criticism of Syria's rights record

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack also criticized as "provocative" a Syrian arrest warrant issued for Walid Jumblatt, a prominent anti-Damascus member of parliament in neighboring Lebanon.

McCormack kept up the US broadsides against Syria, which Washington considers a state sponsor of terror and regional troublemaker bent on keeping its influence in Lebanon a year after the withdrawal of its troops.

He expressed US concern at what he called "a clear pattern of increased repression" demonstrated by the arrests of Syrian dissidents, including human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni and opposition activist Michel Kilo.

The arrests "are merely the latest examples of Syria's blatant abuse of the rights of those who would peacefully seek to express their views," McCormack told reporters.

"The Syrian government continues to implement domestic policies which distance it from the rest of the international community," he said.

"Arrests without warrant and sentences without evidence are not acceptable means of addressing political dissent. We continue to call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Syria."

McCormack said he had not seen details of the move Monday by a Syrian magistrate to transmit to Interpol a warrant for the arrest of Jumblatt, charged with "inciting against Syria."

"It seemed to me to be a, shall I put it, provocative move on the part of the Syrian government," the US spokesman said.

He said Damascus would do better to focus on calls for an end to Syrian interference in Lebanon and, as a first step, establishment of an embassy in Beirut.

"So I think they should really concentrate on getting their own house in order before they start issuing or requesting arrest warrants for political leaders in Lebanon," McCormack said.

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