US works on return of Syrian border guards

US officials, who are still not saying how the border guards were wounded nine days after the incident when American special forces attacked a suspicious convoy, said the men were being “hosted” by US forces.

“All five are now together, have been treated, are ambulatory and are awaiting return which we expect will be as soon as we can work (it) out,” said Lawrence Di Rita, a special assistant to Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld who is acting as the Pentagon's chief spokesman.

Di Rita added that he did not know when repatriation would take place or why it was taking as long as it was, and that it was largely in the hands of the US Embassy in Damascus.

“We just happen to be the ones hosting them,” he said.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Arab News Agency said Syria had demanded that the United States “return ... the wounded soldiers to continue their treatment at a Syrian hospital to avoid any misunderstanding that might lead to an escalation that both sides do not desire.”

The State Department did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the repatriation plans.

Syrians treated in Baghdad

Di Rita, offering a few new details of the raid in which special forces attacked a convoy of vehicles believed to be carrying aides of toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, said one Iraqi had been confirmed killed.

He said three of the Syrians had been treated at a US army combat support hospital in Baghdad and two received treatment in the field for minor wounds.

“I don't know how they (the Syrians) were injured,” Di Rita told reporters, adding that a variety of weapons were used in the raid.

He said he did not know whether the Syrians had been part of the targeted convoy or assisting it in some way.

Neither the United States nor Syria has made clear whether the incident took place on Syrian soil. Di Rita said that was still under “analysis.”

Syrian-US relations have been tense over a host of issues, including US accusations that Damascus has helped members of the former Iraqi government flee and that it was developing chemical weapons. Syria denies the US charges.