"The United States will face huge problems in Iraq and there will be chaos in the entire region," Shara was quoted as saying. "No one wants an American military administration in Iraq."

He claimed that Washington's policy in the Middle East was very influenced by the country's powerful "Jewish lobby" and denied claims that his government was assisting Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

"Everyone knows that relations between Damascus and Baghdad have been strained for 20 years," he said. "But Iraq is an Arab country, we share the same history, we are neighbors and Israel considers us as enemies."

He predicted that the United States faced some difficult years ahead in the region and the Iraqi people would suffer from the situation.

"They (the Americans) don't know the region. They don't even know how the oil wells operate. They think Iraq is like Texas," Shara said.

SPACE.WIRE