US President George W. Bush demanded Syria pull troops from Lebanon today in the wake of the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and said he would seek support from European leaders next week to put more pressure on Damascus.
"Syria is out of step with the progress being made in the greater Middle East," Bush told a news conference.
He said it was too early to conclude that Syria had a role in killing Hariri. Washington has used the outrage prompted by the assassination to intensify pressure it was already bringing on Damascus to withdraw from Lebanon.
Bush said Washington expected Syria to adhere to last September's UN Security Council resolution 1559, which calls for the removal of the Syrian troops, and said, "we expect them to help free and fair elections to take place in Lebanon."
Damascus has denied involvement in the Rafik al-Hariri, but the event has contributed to a rapid deterioration in US relations with Syria.
After the bombing Bush recalled the US ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, for urgent consultations. Asked at his news conference whether Syria had a hand in the killing, he said, "I don't know yet, because the investigation is ongoing."
Bush goes to Brussels next week to meet European Union and NATO leaders. He said he would use the meetings to rally pressure against Damascus. European diplomats have said Syria will be near the top of the agenda for the talks.