Washington – The United States reiterated on Tuesday its call for Syria to stop alleged human rights abuses and end its alleged support for terrorism.

“It is time for the Syrian government to modify its behavior, end its support for terrorism in the region, and provide its citizens with the rights they deserve,” State Department deputy spokesman Tom Casey said in a statement.

The State Department issued the statement about two months after Syria attended the U.S.-brokered Mideast conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

Relations between Syria and the U.S. appeared to warm briefly following Syria`s attendance at the Annapolis conference.

The U.S. has been accusing Syria of meddling in Lebanon, funding and supporting anti-Israel groups and the resistants in Iraq against the U.S.-led coalition troops. Syria denies the charges.

Meanwhile, the U.N. Security Council strongly condemned on Tuesday the deadly attack which killed four people on Friday in Beirut.

The council “condemned in the strongest terms” the “terrorist attack” that killed Wissam Eid, Lebanon`s top anti-terrorism investigator and three others, said a statement read out by Giadalla Ettalhi of Libya, the council`s president for this month.

Eid (31) was involved in probes related to a spate of killings in recent years of mainly anti-Syrian politicians and figures, including former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated their condemnation of all targeted assassinations of Lebanese leaders, particularly since October 2004 and demanded an immediate end to the continuous use of intimidation and violence against Lebanese officials and institutions,” the statement said quoted by AFP.

Calling for bringing “the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous crime” to justice, council members also stressed the need “to put an end to impunity in Lebanon” and the ” importance of the unity of all the Lebanese people and of political dialogue.”

source : www.antara.co.id