Syria's FM slams US missile claims as 'slander campaign'

"It seems the US administration is now trying to play the same game."
His comments come amid accusations by Washington that Iran and Syria are arming Lebanon's militant Shiite group Hezbollah with increasingly sophisticated rockets and missiles.
On Thursday, Clinton warned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against the risk of sparking a regional war if he supplies long-range Scud missiles to the Shiite militia group.
"President Assad is making decisions that could mean war or peace for the region," she told a pro-Israel group.
Her remarks followed claims by Israeli President Shimon Peres in April that Syria was supplying Hezbollah with Scud missiles.
But Muallem dismissed the accusations and warned Washington against taking Israel's claims seriously.
"What destabilises the region is the United Sates supplying significant quantities of sophisticated weaponry to Israel and the fact that Washington adheres to the unjust allegations made by the Israeli government against Syria."
The Scud allegations come as the United States steps up dialogue with Syria after years of tense relations, and US lawmakers have seized upon the accusations to argue against any rapprochement between Washington and Damascus.
In February, US President Barack Obama nominated career diplomat Robert Ford as the country's first ambassador to Syria in five years, but his appointment has yet to be confirmed by the US Senate.
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