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Syrian President Defends Fighting Against Israel
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&ctl=137F8A5:3919ACA Bashar al-Assad
says resistance to Israel is legitimate, peace in Middle East will
remain elusive for some time



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width=189 vspace=2 border=0>

Bashar al-Assad addresses a journalists' association conference in
Damascus, Aug. 15, 2006

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad says resistance to Israel is
legitimate and that peace in the Middle East will remain elusive for
some time.

Mr. Assad says Israel had long been planning the fighting against
Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Speaking at a journalists' conference in Damascus, Mr. Assad paid
tribute to Hezbollah guerrillas for their month-long fight against
Israel.

He also lashed out at President Bush, saying his plan for a "new
Middle East" has collapsed. Mr. Bush blames Hezbollah and its backers,
Syria and Iran, for the recent fighting in Lebanon.

Following Mr. Assad's speech, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter
Steinmeier canceled his trip to Syria. He called the speech a negative
contribution to the situation in the Middle East. He had planned to
travel to Damascus Tuesday.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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