"We are hopeful that a number of regimes will draw the appropriate lesson from Iraq. That the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction is not in their interest," said John Bolton, US Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Bolton was speaking in Rome following a meeting with senior Vatican officials including Foreign Minister Jean-Louis Tauran.

"I think Syria is a good case where I hope they will conclude that the chemical weapons programme (and) the biological weapons programme they've been pursuing are things they should give up," Bolton told reporters.

He said he also hoped Syria would not "pursue nuclear weapons".

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Syria to foreswear the pursuit of weapons of mass destruction, and as with other governments of the region see if there are not new possibilities in the Middle East peace process."

Syria, although run by a rival branch of the Baath party, has strong ties with Iraq and US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld recently renewed allegations that Iraq-bound shipments of military equipment were transiting through its territory.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell denied during a trip to Cairo this week that the US intended to invade Iran and Syria.

But he said: "Syria does pose a problem, because it supports terrorism, and Iran is developing nuclear weapons."

SPACE.WIRE