US has lost influence in Middle East, says Assad

Assad was quoted in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica saying that Washington "has no influence because they don't do anything for peace".

Although Assad said the US nevertheless remains the greatest power, he added a "new era has been born" from a realisation among Middle East powers that the US and Europe had failed to resolve the region's problems, particularly in respect to Israel.

Recent statements by diplomats appear to indicate a lack of consensus on the changing shape of relations in the region.

French foreign minister Bernard Koucher visited Beirut and Damascus on the weekend, with the intention of easing relations following the 2006 war between Israel and Lebanon-based political and paramilitary group Hezbollah.

"Nobody is speaking of tension any more, and so this tension has eased," he told a news conference in Beirut after talks with leaders in Lebanon and Syria.

Kouchner attributed the new climate to the launch of US-mediated indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

But Kouchner's comments contrast with Syria's stance on Israel.

"Israel is beating the drum of war. In the absense of real peace, everything is possible," said Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moualem, referring to the technical state of war between the two countries.

"Why are arms forbidden to Arabs and allowed to Israel?" Moualem asked, following a meeting with his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle. "Did Israel ever stop arming itself, did it stop instigating violence or making military manoevers?"

Israeli-Syrian relations intensified last month when Israeli President Shimon Peres accused Syria of sending long-range Scud missiles to Hezbollah.

Syria said it only gives Hezbollah political backing and denies the accusation.

"A Scud missile is as big as this room," said Moualem. "How could it be hidden and smuggled with Israeli planes and satellites all over the region?"

A French diplomatic source said Kouchner did express concern over Hezbollah's weaponry during his meeting with Assad in Damascus on Sunday, encouraging Syria not to facilitate the delivery of arms.

In turn, Assad accused the West of overlooking Israeli violations in the region.

"The region has changed, and the West's policy in the area is no longer acceptable," Syria's offical news agency quoted Assad as saying.

"If the West wants security and stability to be established in the Middle East, they must start to play an effective role to contain Israel and put an end to its extremist policies."

For its part, the US has avoided giving a view on whether the missile transfer happened.

But Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did say senior officials had raised the issue of weapon transfers with Assad, who she said "was making decisions that could mean war or peace for the region."