Militant Palestinian groups in Damascus today challenged American statements that Syria had cracked down on them, and Syria’s government sidestepped the issue, refusing to confirm one of the few Syrian concessions that seemed to emerge during a weekend visit by Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Mr. Powell, after meeting with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria in Damascus on Saturday, said here at a news conference that there had been “some closures” of offices belonging to the groups. The State Department identified the organizations, which it lists as terrorist groups, as Hamas; the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, General Command; and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Syrian government today declined to confirm Mr. Powell’s statement, however. “You have to ask him what he meant,” said Bouthaina Shaaban, the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, referring to Mr. Powell. “I’m really not entitled to answer.” Full Story
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