Syrian MP denies statements on Iran listening stations

Apr 4, 2008, 12:26 GMT

Damascus - A member of the Syrian parliament denied making statements confirming that Iran had been building listening stations in Syria to intercept Israeli military communications, an Arab newspaper said Friday.

Mohamed Habash, who heads the parliament's Syrian-Iranian relations committee, appeared on al-Arabiya news channel denying statements attributed to him by pan-Arab daily al-Sharq al-Awsat.

According to Thursday's al-Sharq al-Awsat, Habash said Tehran's listening stations in Syria were no secret.

Al-Sharq al-Awsat on Friday reasserted Habash's statements, stating that the newspaper has a recorded proof of the phone interview conducted with Habash, in which he confirms the listening stations.

In his interview with al-Sharq al-Awsat, Habash said: 'Syria is doing all it could to defend its territory and is turning to military experts for help.

'We are still at war with Israel. We have the right to defend our borders with all means within international law.'

The real objective of Syrian cooperation with Russia, China and Iran is to protect the country's borders, the lawmaker said.

Israeli security officials reportedly said Iran built a number of listening stations in Syria months ago.