U.S. INTEL WARNS AGAINST ASSAD OVERTHROW

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The U.S. intelligence community has warned the Bushadministration against overthrowing Syrian President Bashar Assad. Administration sources said a report by U.S. national intelligencedirector John Negroponte warned that Assad could be replaced by an even moreanti-U.S. regime. The classified report, said to reflect the view of the CIAand most of the U.S. intelligence community, ruled out a democraticrevolution in Syria.