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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK
Crisis in Middle East: Syria Wants Answers
Aired October 6, 2003 - 06:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Tensions are escalating even further in the volatile Middle East. Syria has taken its complaint to the United Nations in hopes of getting a resolution condemning Israel. That's in response to an Israeli airstrike on a site in Syria, which Israel says was a training camp for Palestinian militants.
The Israel assault came after a female suicide bomber killed 19 people and wounded 50 others at a restaurant Friday in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The Arab League says Israel's bombing of Syria exposes the deteriorating situation in the region to uncontrollable consequences.
Our Rula Amin joins us by phone from the Syrian capital of Damascus with more on this situation.
Good morning once again -- Rula.
RULA AMIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
The Syrians, as you said, are seeking a broad international condemnation for Israel's attack. At the U.N. yesterday, most of the countries did that. They condemned the attack. They said it was a violation of international law, and that it was unjustified. However, the U.S. stopped short from doing that, and the U.S. ambassador did say that Syria is on the wrong side of the war against the terrorism -- against the terrorists and terrorism.
So, the Syrians here are concerned and anxious. They want to make sure that whatever happened on Sunday is not repeated, and that it doesn't mean a new phase -- a new beginning for a new pattern that whenever there is an attack in Israel, Israel will launch an attack in Syria, or maybe in another Arab country.
And that's why, here, there is anxiety, not only in Damascus, but throughout the region. We heard from different Arab government officials, who were calling on the United States to restrain Israel in order not to inflame the situation further.
Today here in Syria, the newspapers, they were all highlighting the condemnation that Syria got at the Security Council. However, you can tell easily there is concern that this could spin out of control, and that the whole region would be inflamed again -- Heidi.
COLLINS: Rula Amin joining us this morning by phone from Damascus. Thanks so much, Rula.
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