DAMASCUS, June 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Syria on Saturday denounced US allegations that Damascus had drawn up an assassination hit list against Lebanon public figures, the official SANA news agency reported.
"These allegations are just a cheap bid to affect the Lebanese elections ... and to instigate against Syria," said Nizar Maihoub, director of the Foreign Media Department of the Information Ministry.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Friday that Washington had received information about a "Syrian hit list targeting key Lebanese public figures of various political and religious persuasions, for assassination."
Another US official, asking not to be named, said the information came from "a variety of credible Lebanese sources."
Maihoub said, "Those Lebanese who are going along with some foreign sides that declare publicly hostility toward Syria and destroy Syria's name are just for votes."
"Syria expresses disgust over these uncivilized and irresponsible manners," he said, adding Syria condemns acts of intimidation, assassination and bombing.
"Syria, together with the majority of the Lebanese people, denounce French and US interference in Lebanon's internal affairs and renew a call for enabling the Lebanese people to manage their own affairs within the framework of sovereignty and independence," he said.
US President George W. Bush on Friday issued a fresh warning against Damascus, saying he was disturbed by reports of covert Syrian interference in Lebanese affairs.
Washington, allied with Paris, sponsored a UN resolution demanding a full and quick withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Syria completed the withdrawal in April under mounting international pressure following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
A UN verification team reported the full pullout in May, but Washington has repeated its accusations that not all Syrian intelligence personnel have returned to Syria. Syria has been under US economic sanctions since May 2004. Enditem | 
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