Syria's interior minister, who ran Lebanon for many years and was one of several top officials caught up in the U.N. probe of the slaying of that nation's former prime minister, died today. The country's official news agency said he committed suicide in his office.

Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad says Syria wasn't involved in the murder of former Lebanese P.M. Rafik Hariri, and blamed U.S. for Iraq mess.
"I would never do such a thing in my life. What do we achieve?" Al-Assad asked.

"I think what happened targeted Syria. That would affect our relation with the Lebanese people and with most of the country. So we wouldn't do it because it's against our interest, and it's against my principle. I would never do it. It's impossible."


Bush said ---> "We're making good progress toward peace in the Holy Land, but one of the areas of concern is that foreign countries such as Syria might try to disrupt the peace process by encouraging terrorist activities."