Syrian president demands action from Obama on Mideast peace process

Nov 13, 2009, 9:12 GMT

Paris - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has criticized US President Barack Obama in an interview Friday for what he termed his passivity in relaunching the Mideast peace process.

'The weak point (of the peace process) is the American sponsor,' Assad said in an interview published Friday in the daily Le Figaro. 'A sponsor must elaborate a plan of action. He must be proactive and take the initiative, not remain passive and wait for others to act.'

Assad is meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy later Friday in Paris to discuss the Mideast peace process, as well as relations between Paris and Damascus.

Assad said he was in agreement 'in principle' with what Obama has said about peace in the Middle East, but was waiting to see what his plan of action would be.

The Syrian president also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, charging that his administration 'does not want to relaunch the process of (peace) negotiations.'

In addition, Assad accused the Israeli government of lying about the shipment of arms it intercepted earlier this month and which it said had been sent by Iran to the guerilla group Hezbollah in Lebanon.

'Where is the proof that these arms were destined for Hezbollah or anyone else?' Assad said. 'The question is if Israel has the right to carry out this act of piracy in the Mediterranean and seize a boat.'