Damascus announced yesterday that it will not allow weapons inspectors into Syria, but it plans to push for a broad plan that would eliminate weapons of mass destruction from the Middle East (see GSN, April 17).

Speaking in Cairo, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa said Syria would not allow inspectors, but he did not clarify if he was negating earlier official statements that Syria would only allow inspectors if they were deployed to countries across the Middle East, including Israel.

“Syria won’t allow any inspection.  It will only participate with its (Arab) brothers and all of the states of the world in turning the Middle East into an area free of weapons of mass destruction,” al-Sharaa said.

Recent U.S. allegations of Syrian chemical weapons development were made at Israel’s behest, al-Sharaa said.

Al-Sharaa also welcomed the prospect of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, “because we believe dialogue between the two countries is important” (Reuters/Washington Post, April 18).

Pushing its plan for a WMD-free Middle East, Syria introduced a draft resolution Wednesday to the U.N. Security Council.  Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher said Cairo would support the effort (United Press International, April 17).

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