U.S. accuses Iran, Syria of arming&

    u.s. secretary of defense robert gates on tuesday accused iran and syria of arming lebanon's shiite armed group hezbollah, saying they gave the group sophisticated rockets and missiles.
    "syria and iran are providing hezbollah with rockets and missiles of ever-increasing capability," gates said at a joint news availability hosting israeli defense minister ehud barak.
    israel and the united states have been accusing syria of giving hezbollah scud missiles, an accusation denied by lebanese president michel suleiman monday. suleiman said the accusation is israel's fabrications.
    gates also said he's satisfied with the planning process to counter iran both within the pentagon and at inter-agency level in the u.s. government.
    while voicing support for the u.s. strategy of negotiation and pressure, barak warned the world cannot afford to wait too long to see if iran give up its nuclear "ambition."
    the west accuses iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. iran denies the accusation, and says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
    source:xinhua