"The withdrawal of occupation forces would allow the Iraqi people to decide their own destiny, it's the only way to build a better future" for the country, al-Assad was quoted as saying.

Syria, a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, "will do everything possible on a regional and international level to help the Iraqi people (ease) their suffering and preserve Iraq's unity and territorial integrity," he added.

Syria has strongly opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq, although US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld accused Damascus Wednesday of helping "senior regime people out of Iraq and into Syria" and of continuing to provide Iraqi forces with equipment despite previous warnings.

SPACE.WIRE