naharnet: The Bush administration reportedly is sending CIA director George Tenet to Damascus soon with a "loud and firm" message to President Assad that the U.S. was "totally dissatisfied" with Syria's procrastination on America's demands for a withdrawal from Lebanon and removal of Hizbullah fighters off Israel's northern flank.

Probably to underscore Washington's disenchantment, the Pentagon has delayed the scheduled handover of five Syrian soldiers held by U.S. troops since a shootout to stop a car convoy thought to be smuggling Saddam Hussein and top aides from crossing the border to Syria eleven days ago, An Nahar reported on Sunday.

The Pentagon has overruled objections by the U.S. State Department, Syria and U.S. field commanders in Iraq in delaying the handover of the Syrian border guards who were wounded in the June 18 firefight, which was officially set by the State Department for last Tuesday, An Nahar said.

Pentagon officials contended that the delay was a result of 'bureaucratic procedures' and not a punishment for Syria.