SYRIAN VICE PRESIDENT ABDELHALIM KHADDAM SAID SUNDAY THE SEPTEMBER 11 ATTACKS IN WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK IGNITED A THIRD WORLD WAR THAT WOULD EXPAND FROM AFGHANISTAN TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD.
SPEAKING DURING A MEETING WITH A DELEGATION FROM THE FRENCH HIGHER MILITARY STUDIES CENTER, KHADDAM SAID THIS WAR MIGHT LAST FOR DECADES.
HE CRITICIZED THE UN RESOLUTION 1373, WHICH, HE AID, ALLOWS ANY STATE TO WAGE A WAR ON ANOTHER STATE UNDER THE PRETEXT OF COMBATING TERRORISM.
THE STATEMENTS WERE SEEN AS THE FIRST CLEAR INDICATION THAT SYRIA IS FEARING THAT U.S. STRIKES EXPAND TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND HIT SYRIA, WHICH THE U.S. ACCUSES OF SUPPORTING TERRORISM, FOR HARBORING PALESTINIAN GROUPS FIGHTING ISRAEL.
