An official Syrian newspaper dismissed on Thursday the U.S. accusation that Damascus is trying to topple the Lebanese government with Iran and Hezbollah as "pure rubbish".

"This pure rubbish is meant to raise turmoil in Lebanon and cause fallout with Syria, which paid with blood to maintain Lebanese independence and sovereignty," Syria's ruling party's al- Baath daily said in an editorial.

The paper demanded that Washington should make public any evidence of Syria's alleged role in Lebanon.

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

U.S. 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 U.S. to follow suit and to stop instigating the Lebanese people against each other and against other countries," the statement said.

"It is a shame that the U.S., the world's superpower, is belittling itself to such petty politics," it added.

Source: Xinhua