DAMASCUS, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Saturday accused the United States of worsening the political crisis in Lebanon by sending a warship off the Lebanese coast.

    Muallem made the accusation at a joint press conference with visiting Arab League chief Amr Moussa.

    "The existence of this ship affirms that the United States was obstructing the political solution in Lebanon," said Muallem.

    "Those Lebanese who are betting on the United States flexing its muscle will be disappointed. Washington cannot impose the solution it wants. The way out has to be based on a Lebanese consensus," added the official.

    It is Syria's first reaction to Washington's announcement on Thursday that the U.S. navy has moved guided-missile destroyer USScole to the eastern Mediterranean Sea off Lebanon.

    Lebanon is currently facing the most serious political deadlock since the end of the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, the presidential seat has been vacant since Nov. 24 of 2007 when former President Emile Lahoud stepped down.

    A long-awaited parliamentary session to elect a new president to succeed Lahoud has been postponed for the 15th time from Feb. 26 to March 11.

    The presidency deadlock deepened the Lebanese political crisis as fears are mounting that failure in electing a new president could result in more violence in the country.

    Syria is accused of obstructing the presidential elections in Lebanon through its opposition allies.

    Some Arab countries threatened to boycott the upcoming Arab summit in Damascus in late March if Syria does not facilitate the election of Army commander Gen. Michel Suleiman as president.