"Appetites grow in a war," ran the Kommersant business daily's front-page banner headline. "The Iraqi crisis has been transformed into a Syrian one."

The Gazeta splashed a photograph of Bush fumbling with a sandwich as he brings it to his mouth under the headline: "Iraq will be left over for dessert. The US will strike Syria next."

On Monday, a top Russian foreign ministry official urged the United States to exercise more restraint.

US officials have accused the regime of President Bashar al-Assad of state terrorism, developing weapons of mass destruction and harbouring fugitive Iraqi officials.

"Harsh statements from Washington in relation to Damascus can only complicate the already difficult situation in the Middle East after what has already happened," said Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov.

"We would urge greater restraint."

But Russian state-run television, which has been caustic in its coverage of the Iraq war, failed to comment on the Western threats against Syria Tuesday morning.

However, the Moscow press appeared united in its defence of Damascus, with some arguing that the United States' only policy in the Middle East was one aimed at defending Israel.

"Clouds over Damascus," the Vremya Novostei, seen as close to President Vladimir Putin, warned.

It argued that US plans to defend Israel "may be a reason for war breaking out between the US and Syria".

SPACE.WIRE