Rice Increases Pressure on Syria

Rice told ABC television that there is strong evidence that Islamic Jihad’s Syrian branch planned the attack and that Syria, therefore, should be confronted with many questions. Friday’s blast killed five people and injured 50.

The attack occurred following a truce by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on February 8th.

Rice added that regardless of the level of Syria’s part in the incident, Damascus is hindering the emergence of change in the Middle East.