MIDDLE EAST: The assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri is causing new complications in relations between the US and Europe, just days before a visit by President Bush to Brussels designed partly to ease tensions left over from the Iraq war.
As in the case of the US-led invasion of Iraq, the sharpest differences that have arisen are between Washington and Paris.
In reaction to the killing of Hariri, the US is sharply stepping up pressure on its allies to declare that the Lebanon-based Shia group, Hizbullah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, is a terrorist organisation.
France and some other European countries have refused to do so, on the basis that while Hizbullah has carried out attacks on Israel, it also has elected members in the Beirut parliament and provides social services in Lebanon.
Designating Hizbullah a terrorist organisation would prevent it from raising money in Europe as a charity.
The US has long argued that Hizbullah should be listed as a terrorist organisation, but as recently as last week France rebuffed an appeal from US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to do so on the grounds that a political party should not be put on a terrorist list.
The issue was reportedly discussed by European officials at a meeting in Brussels last Wednesday without a consensus emerging.
The issue presents another challenge to Mr Bush in how to repair ruptured relations, the New York Times reported yesterday on its front page.
Mr Bush said yesterday he would seek support from EU and NATO leaders in Brussels next week on his Middle East policy.
"I look forward to working with my European friends on my upcoming trip to talk about how we can work together to convince the Syrians to make rational decisions," he said.
"Syria is out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East."
He said Washington expected Syria to adhere to UN Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the removal of Syrian troops, and said, "we expect them to help free and fair elections to take place in Lebanon".
Mr Bush did not directly accuse Syria of the bombing on Monday, saying "we don't know" who was responsible, but the event has brought about a rapid deterioration in US-Syria relations.
Mr Bush has recalled the American ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, for urgent consultations.
The administration, which has already imposed some economic sanctions on Syria since May, is considering restrictions on US-Syria financial dealings and freezing the assets of Syrian officials. The administration is also reportedly debating whether American troops should cross the Syrian border from Iraq in "hot pursuit" of insurgents.
Mr Bush said Syria must not allow its territory to be used by Iraqi insurgents, "and we expect them to find and turn over former Saddam regime supporters [ and] send them back to Iraq".
Dr Rice has told Congress that the US favours diplomatic pressure to resolve its differences with Syria, but has not ruled out military force.
However, she said the administration believed concerted international pressure should move the Syrians to act on UN resolution 1559.
Dr Rice used some similar language last week against Iran, which has said it will shoot down any US spy planes that come within range of its air defence weaponry.
She sidestepped a question at a Congressional hearing yesterday on whether Mr Bush would consult Congress before initiating any military operation against either Syria or Iran.
"I don't want to speculate on what the President might or might not need," she said.