11/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - According to the Lebanese daily al-Mostaqbal, signature of the association agreement between the EU and Syria is to be differed due to differences over a clause relating to weapons of mass destruction. Negotiations between the two parties had, however, been settled on 9 December last but the signing of the agreement was postponed because of the anger expressed by Syrian authorities due to the wish of some countries to revise the clause, the daily stresses, citing a European diplomatic source. The daily recalls that the clause in question is part of the agreement concluded in December between the EU and Damascus, but points out that the United Kingdom, Germany and the Netherlands insisted after closure of talks that this should be amended to provide for additional commitments and obligations on the part of Syria. The United States recently expressed concern about Syria possessing weapons of mass destruction and threatened Syria with sanctions because of the support it was alleged to be giving terrorist movements.