DATE=4-15-02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288727

TITLE=POWELL-SYRIA (S)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=DAMASCUS

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Secretary of State Colin Powell interrupted his Israeli-Palestinian peace mission to visit Lebanon and Syria to discuss the tense situation along Lebanon's border with Israel. Mr. Powell urged officials of both governments to rein-in Hezbollah guerrillas who have been firing at Israeli positions along the border. V-O-A's David Gollust reports from Damascus.

TEXT: From their bases in southern Lebanon the Syrian supported Hezbollah guerrillas have been firing rockets at Israeli positions on an almost daily basis since Israel began its military drive in the West Bank.

Mr. Powell is worried the attacks might prompt a massive Israeli response and open a second front in the Middle East conflict. He stressed his concern at a Beirut news conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Mahmoud Hammoud:

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There is a very real danger of the situation along the border widening the conflict throughout the region. It is essential to all those who are committed to peace. It is essential to all those who are committed to peace to act immediately to stop aggressive actions along the entire border.

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In his remarks, Mr. Hammoud said developments in southern Lebanon cannot be isolated from what he called Israeli "escalation" in Palestinian areas of the West Bank.

He also described Hezbollah attacks on Israeli forces in the disputed Shebaa farms as a "resistance operation". The Lebanese Foreign Minister said the United States should not be influenced by Israel's characterization of them as terrorism. (SIGNED)

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