Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Tuesday threatened to close its border with Lebanon if international troops are stationed to monitor alleged illegal arms transfer into its neighbor.

When asked about the possibility of stationing such troops at a joint press conference with visiting Belgian counterpart Karel de Gucht, al-Muallem said that to establish an international control on the border between Syria and Lebanon was "a sign that the West wants a state of war between the two."

He also denied allegations that arms were transferred from Syria into Lebanon.

"All the rumors about arms crossing the borders ... are wrong," he said.

Al-Muallem made the same threat last summer after a conflict between Israel and the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement.

Syria, a supporter of Hezbollah, has been accused of providing weapons to the movement which is listed as a terrorist group by the United States.

Syria has rejected such an accusation, saying that its support was only political.

Source: Xinhua