West asked to define terrorism

By Kesava Menon

MANAMA (BAHRAIN), OCT. 31. The British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, arrived in Saudi Arabia today on the second leg of his second tour of West Asia since the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism began. Mr. Blair was in Damascus earlier in the day where he held discussions with the Syrian President, Dr. Bashar al Assad.

In Damascus, Mr. Blair got the first blast of the consensual Arab trumpet call that the West must be clear about its definition of terrorism even as it goes about its promised long-term campaign against this phenomenon. Dr. Assad told the British leader that in particular, the West must refrain from applying the label of terrorism to the Palestinian struggle for independence and the establishment of a sovereign state.

At the same time, the Syrian leader also decried the tendency to project West Asia as the breeding ground of terrorism. He also deplored the action of certain groups which had hijacked Islam or the Arab cause to promote their own agendas.

Mr. Blair is likely to hear more of the same, plus strong words against the killing of innocents in Afghanistan, when discussions with his Saudi hosts begins later in the day. Mr. Blair also begins his Saudi visit under a diplomatic cloud since his earlier attempt to visit the Kingdom had fallen through. Both sides have denied reports that the Saudis had snubbed Mr. Blair by asking him to not bother to visit. But there has not been a enough explanation for Mr. Blair not touching down in the Kingdom while visiting other allies on his earlier tour.

AP reports:

Dr. Assad gave no indication he was prepared to restrain violent Palestinian groups that operate from his country. Syria has long argued Palestinians have the right to use force in opposing Israel's occupation and it is on the U.S. State Department's list of states sponsoring terrorism. ``Resisting occupation is an international right,'' Dr. Assad told a news conference with Mr. Blair following their private talks at the presidential palace. ``An act of resistance is different from an act of terrorism,'' Dr. Assad said. He also criticised the military campaign in Afghanistan, where Britain so far is the only nation to join the U.S. in its bombing campaign. ``We cannot accept what we see on the screen every day, hundreds of innocent civilians dying,'' Dr. Assad said.

Despite Dr. Assad's uncompromising words, British officials pronounced themselves satisfied with the first official visit to Syria by a British Prime Minister.

``This is a candid dialogue, but I would like to think that it is a dialogue that can be pursued,'' Mr. Blair said at the news conference.

He said Britain was seeking a lasting cease- fire in the Israeli- Palestinian fighting to create a base of calm for serious peace negotiations.

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