WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 Syria is a government of brute force, not one whose legitimacy is grounded in the consent of the people, U.S. President George W. Bush said Wednesday. The Syrian regime should also cease its efforts to undermine Lebanese sovereignty by denying the Lebanese people their right to participate in the democratic process free of foreign intimidation and interference, Bush said in a statement. He urged Syria to disclose the whereabouts of Lebanese arrested during Syria's military occupation of Lebanon. He called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to immediately free all political prisoners, some of whom he said were ailing and denied health care, while others are held in cells with violent criminals.The bipartisan Iraq Study Group -- led by former Secretary of State James Baker and former Rep. Lee Hamilton, D-Ind. -- last week urged the Bush administration to consider direct talks with Iran and Syria.The White House has so far rejected such contacts.Copyright 2006 by UPI
