Syria cooperates with U.S.
The week's news at a glance.
Damascus
President Bashar al-Assad pledged this week to deny refuge to former Iraqi officials fleeing Baghdad. Bush administration officials had accused Damascus of harboring followers of Saddam Hussein as well as, perhaps, some of the deposed dictator’s weapons of mass destruction—prompting speculation that the U.S. might take military action. “Syria, from the beginning, never wanted confrontational dialogue with the U.S.,” Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara said this week. “We have sealed off the borders between Syria and Iraq, and anyone crossing the border should have a visa.” President Bush pronounced himself pleased. “It seems like they’re beginning to get the message,” he said.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Selfies ban in art galleries: a sign of the times?
Talking Point Priceless art has been damaged by visitors desperate to take a snap with star attractions, leading some galleries and museums to start fighting back
-
Quiz of The Week: 21 – 27 June
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
The Week Unwrapped: How do you turn plastics into paracetamol?
Podcast Plus, what is the Wagner Group doing now? And why is it so hard to find a job after university?