Bush raps Syria, Iran

CRAWFORD, United States (AFP) - US President George W. Bush accused Syria and Iran of fomenting "chaos" in the Middle East, and said both knew exactly what they must do to escape US diplomatic crosshairs.

"I appreciate people focusing on Syria and Iran and we should, because Syria and Iran sponsor and promote Hezbollah activity, all aimed at creating chaos, all aimed at using terror to stop the advance of democracies," said Bush during a press conference on his Texas ranch.

Bush hit back at critics who say the Lebanon crisis will never be resolved without direct US talks with Damascus, and said Iran had been given a clear path out of its nuclear showdown with the West.

"Yes that's an interesting question. I have been reading about that, that people have been posing that question," Bush said when asked about a flurry of commentary advocating US talks with Damascus.

He said top officials in his first term from 2001 to 2005 had travelled to Syria, including former secretary of state Colin Powell, and his deputy Richard Armitage, but to no avail.

"Syria knows what we think," Bush said.

"The problem isn't us telling Syria what's on our minds, which is to stop harboring terror and to, you know, help the Iraqi democracy evolve. They know exactly what our position is."

"The problem is is that their response hasn't been very positive. As a matter of fact, it hasn't been positive at all."

Though the US ambassador has been recalled from Damascus, Washington still maintains an embassy in the Syrian capital, and says it can use it as a channel for communications with the government.

On Iran, Bush said that the Tehran government knew that by signing up to a package of incentives offered by Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States that it could resolve the nuclear showdown.

"We made it clear to the Iranians that if they would honor previous obligations and verifiably stop enrichment of nuclear materials, we would sit at a table," Bush said.

"So there's a way forward for both countries. The choice is theirs."

Earlier Monday, Iran insisted it would not freeze uranium enrichment, in defiance of a UN resolution, and warned it could even expand its nuclear program which the West fears is a cover for efforts to build a nuclear bomb.

A UN Security Council resolution requires Iran to halt uranium enrichment and other sensitive nuclear fuel work by August 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.

Bush on Monday held up that resolution, and one on North Korea's behavior, as proof that Washington could work though the Security Council on the Lebanon crisis.