A Syrian Foreign Ministry source on Thursday rejected a US accusation that Damascus is trying to topple the Lebanese government with Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah, the official SANA news agency reported.

Describing the US accusation as "inaccurate," the source said that Syria has announced its support to what the Lebanese agreed upon through their national dialogue since the withdrawal of Syrian forces from Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the Syrian ruling party's al-Baath daily dismissed in an editorial the US accusation as "pure rubbish," adding it "is meant to raise turmoil in Lebanon."

On Wednesday, the White House said that the United States had "mounting evidence" that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hezbollah, and their Lebanese allies were preparing to topple the Lebanese government and asked them to keep their "hands off."

US officials, however, refused to provide details or even describe the information underpinning the accusation, saying it was classified and keeping the charge vague "serves a diplomatic purpose and an important one."

Shortly after the allegation was made, the Syrian Embassy in Washington issued a statement, rejecting the claims as "ludicrous" and "unfounded."

"Syria fully respects the sovereignty of Lebanon and does not interfere in its internal politics. Therefore, we call on the United States to follow suit and to stop instigating the Lebanese people against each other and against other countries," the statement said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2006)