US warns Syria of long-term wrath

Rice is considered a hawk in the Bush administration

The incoming secretary of state has warned Syria it faces new sanctions and "long-term bad relations" with the US.

At her Senate confirmation hearings, Condoleezza Rice stressed US concerns about Syria's role in Lebanon and Iraq and its alleged links to terrorism.

"It's fair to say that the Syrian government is behaving in a way that could unfortunately lead to long-term bad relations with the US," she said.

Washington imposed sanctions on Syria in May including a ban on most exports.

"We have, thanks to the Syrian Accountability Act, some tools," Ms Rice said.

"But we will have to mobilise them because Syria should not be, but is, thus far not a constructive force."

Syria denies supporting terrorism and says it is doing its best to control its long desert border with Iraq to prevent the flow of foreign insurgents, supplies and funds.

US officials say President George W Bush is reviewing a wide range of options for his second term, from financial penalties to military options.

The Accountability Act - which already bans all US exports to Syria excluding food and medicine - still has some measures available to it, including downgrading diplomatic relations and imposing travel restrictions on Syrian officials in the US.