Powell expressed concern at some of President Bashar al-Assad's policies and urged Syria to follow the example of Libya which has pledged to abandon its weapons of mass destruction programs.

"We have not characterised Syria as one of the members of the axis of evil but we are concerned about some of Syria's policies with respect to supporting terrorist activity, with respect of what they might be doing with weapons of mass destruction," Powell told Britain's Sky News.

Prior to Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi's decision in December to renounce his quest for chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, the United States had considered Libya to be one of the major state sponsors of terrorism.

"We have made it clear to the Syrians that we are not looking for trouble with them but that it is time for them to stop supporting terrorist activities that inflame the Middle East," Powell said.

"They should follow the example of other nations in the region, especially Libya," he said.

"I would hope that Syria would review its policies in light of the changed situation in Iraq and the rest of the region," he added.

Washington has accused Damascus of helping to arm the ousted regime of Saddam Hussein and of turning a blind eye to foreign militants entering Iraq to carry out attacks on the coalition.

Syria denies the US charges of supporting terrorism and developing weapons.

It also accuses Washington of double standards and not doing enough to rein in its close ally Israel, which remains in occupation of the Golan Heights, a strategic plateau seized from Syria in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.

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