DAMASCUS (AFP) – The Syrian information minister accused Washington Sunday of torpedoing French and Libyan efforts to end the political deadlock in Lebanon, according to the official Syrian news agency Sana.

“At the moment when Syria and France were searching for a way forward on Lebanon, the US scurried to send two envoys to Lebanon — Elliott Abrams and David Welch — known for their partiality to Israel, with the aim of torpedoing an accord between the different factions in Lebanon,” Mohsen Bilal said.

The most recent proposals from President George W. Bush were aimed at “ensuring the failure of the French-Syrian efforts,” he added.

Asked last week whether he would talk to Syrian President Bashir al-Assad to work on ending Lebanon’s political crisis, Bush said his patience had run out with the Syrian leader.

“My patience ran out on President Assad a long time ago, and the reason why is because he houses Hamas, he facilitates Hezbollah, suiciders go from his country into Iraq and he destabilizes Lebanon,” said Bush.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem has already accused Washington of blocking what he said were Syrian and French efforts to end the Lebanese deadlock.