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US refuses to comment on attack in Syria

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-10-28 08:19

WASHINGTON -- The US State Department Monday refused to comment on a rare attack by US helicopters on the Syrian side of border with Iraq on Sunday which reportedly killed eight people.

"The Syrians did call in, at the level of vice foreign minister, our charge d'affairs, ... brought her in there to raise with her these reports of activities in Abu Kamal, which is close to the Syrian-Iraqi border," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters Monday at a press conference.

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"But beyond that, I don't have any comment for you," said the spokesman, adding "probably the best people to give you an update on that are either my friends at the Pentagon or MNF-I (Multi- National Force - Iraq) in Baghdad .... They are in a better position to do that."

The White House also refused to give any remark on the attack. "United States government has not commented on reports about that, and I'm not able to here, either." said Dana Perino, spokeswoman for President George W. Bush.

The spokeswoman, during the daily press conference, rarely used "I can't comment on it at all," "I'm not going to comment in any way," "I don't know, I don't know," "all I can tell you is that I am not able to comment on reports about this reported incident" to answer reporters' questions on the attack.

The Syrian media reported four US helicopters had "launched aggression on a civilian building under construction" near the Syrian town of Abu Kamal. Eight people were killed in the attack.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem, who was in London for a visit, told reporters Monday that the US attack in Syrian territory was an act of "criminal and terrorist aggression," adding that Syria would defend its territories should the United States launched a similar attack again.