George Bush, the US president, has said he is extending sanctions against Syria following Washington's charge that Damascus has been building a nuclear reactor with North Korea's help.

Bush announced his decision on Wednesday to continue a one-year freeze on Syrian assets as well as a ban on exporting certain goods to Syria.

"I took these actions to deal with the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the United States constituted by the actions of the government of Syria," Bush said in a message to the US congress.

He accused Syria of "supporting terrorism ... pursuing weapons of mass destruction and missile programs, including the recent revelation of illicit nuclear co-operation with North Korea".

"Meddling in Iraq"

The president also said Syria was "undermining US and international efforts with respect to the stabilization and reconstruction of Iraq".

Bush initially slapped sanctions on Syria in May 2004, then extended them in April 2006 and widened them in February to target officials engaged in "public corruption," amid charges Damascus was destabilizing Iraq and Lebanon.

Last month, US national security officials presented intelligence they said showed Syria had been building a secret nuclear reactor for military purposes.

They told congress the plant was being built with the help of North Korea, until its destruction by Israel in an air raid on September 6.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched an investigation into the US accusations but also chided both Israel and the United States for their handling of the affair.

Syria denied the US allegations, promised full co-operation with the UN watchdog and accused the United States of a "campaign of lies" akin to US charges that Iraq had a weapons of mass destruction program.

PHOTO CAPTION 

George Bush, the US president

Al-Jazeera