Last Updated on May 4, 2003, 12:31 AM (GMT+02:00)

State Department official reports shutdown of three Palestinian terrorist offices in Damascus: Hamas, Jihad Islami and PFLP-General Command.

DEBKAfile's Counter-terror sources: Closing down information offices is a technicality. US ultimatum refers to operational commands, bases, training facilities left functioning by Syrian government and surrender of wanted terrorists.

DEBKAfile reveals exclusively: Syria organized overland transfer of Iraq's WMD to Lebanese Beqaa Valley for burial in pits 30 meters deep. Saddam paid Assad and family $35m to cover expenses.

In attempt to pacify Washington, Syria secretly turned over to US forces on April 28 two heads of Saddam's bio-warfare program Dr Rihab Taha, "Dr. Germ" and anthrax expert Huda Salih Ammash.