US renews US-Syria sanctions

NEW YORK: US President Barack Obama has renewed sanctions against Syria, saying it supported terrorist groups and was pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

In a statement, he said Syria "continues to pose an extraordinary threat" to US security and policy.

In a message to Congress to renew the sanctions for a further year, Mr Obama said the Syrian government had made "some progress" in checking the infiltration of foreign militants into Iraq.

But he said its "continuing support for terrorist organisations and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction and missile programmes, continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States," Mr Obama said.

Former President George W Bush imposed the sanctions in 2004.