Following is a transcript by Arab Media Watch of a press conference in London with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, attended by AMW director Muna Nashashibi on 27 October 2008.

Samia Nakhoul, Reuters: Could you tell us exactly what happened yesterday? We'd like to hear your account.

FM: I don't understand and I'm astonished by this aggression. Yesterday, around 5pm, four American helicopters crossed the border from Iraq. Around 8km from the border inside Syrian territory, there's a farm. Two helicopters landed, and the other two were protecting them. Solders came out from these two helicopters, and started shooting to kill civilians who work in the farm. They killed four of one family - the father and three children - the guard and his wife. They also killed a fisherman who was fishing from the Euphrates River outside the farm. All of them are civilian Syrians, unarmed. They were on Syrian territory. Killing civilians in international law is a terrorist aggression. The Americans do it during daylight. This means it's not a mistake. It was done with planned determination. For that, we put the responsibility for this criminal and terrorist aggression on the American government. They need to investigate and come back to us with the result and explanation why they did this. We asked the Iraqis also to investigate, and not to allow using Iraqi territory to launch aggression against Syria. A question arises here: is this the introduction of the agreement between the US administration and Iraq, the defensive agreement where many Iraqis are saying that the sovereignty of Iraq is at stake and the Americans will use Iraqi territory to launch aggression against neighbouring countries?

CNN: Can you tell us what the American charge d'affaires said yesterday when she was called?

FM: She had no information. She'll convey what she was told, and she'll return back to us. She regretted the life of civilians killed

Fox News: Why didn't the American government approach Syria in dealing with this issue? Why was there no communication?

FM: The US surprised everybody by this aggression. Now if they claim that there were some terrorist activities of Al Qaida or others, they know very well that we stand against Al Qaida. We condemn their activities against the Iraqi people, and they know very well that we're doing our utmost to control the borders with Iraq. So the question is why then this aggression? We want to know.

United Press International: Does this mean the US is free to use this reason to penetrate any country?

FM: This is the law-of-the-jungle mood that some members of the American administration have. We call this in our area 'cowboy politics'. Anyway, the portfolio of this administration is full of lies and abundant myths, starting with their approaching the UN Security Council with false proofs about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Iraqi government representative: How do you answer Ali Dabbagh, who said the Iraqis had asked the Syrians to control the borders and the Syrians failed to do that?

FM: I'm surprised and astonished that there should be a person who claims he's an official of the Iraqi government and its spokesman, and claims he has one drop of Arab blood in his veins to justify this criminal aggression against Syrian unarmed civilians. I'd be greatly astonished at his justification, if he indeed said what's claimed that he has.

Baria Alameddin, Al Hayat: What condemnation did you hear from the British side?

FM: They expressed regret for losing civilian lives.

Alameddin: They expressed no regret for the aggression?

FM: They said they had to hear the other side. Mr Miliband heard our side. He said he'll contact the other side.

CNN: If the Americans do this again, would you use force to deter them?

FM: If they do it again, we'll defend our territories. Do you think it's valid to sacrifice other people's lives and civilian lives? Does the election validate the sacrifice of human lives as an instrument? Is this the human rights you're promising others?

Question: Are you going to take the case to the Security Council?

FM: Unfortunately, as long as there's America in the Security Council, there's no democracy in international relations.

Kuwait: What about the Arab countries and the Arab League?

FM: I don't want to talk on behalf of the Arab countries or Arab League. Each state has its head and officials. All I can say is that this is a stark aggression which the forces of occupation carried out against an Arab sister state, which is Syria. It happened inside Syrian land and killed innocent civilians. How do the Arab states view this? Anyone with a drop of Arab blood in his veins should have a strong and declared reaction without fearing the American administration or any other parties.

Nasser al Bidri, Al Jazeera: For years, the US was accusing Syria of allowing terrorists to penetrate Iraq, but it hadn't carried out any aggression. How do you explain the timing of this aggression? And was this the reason for cancelling the joint press conference you were supposed to have with the British Foreign Secretary?

FM: I think the length of time the negotiations took might be the reason behind cancelling the joint press conference. In reality, this question should be posed to the British authorities.

Al Bidri: But it was said that the meeting was convened in accordance with a pre-agreement between you two.

FM: There'll be a joint press release. They might not have wanted to affect this present press conference, which was due directly after the negotiations. From my point of view, the negotiations were constructive. We discussed every aspect of the dual relations, and the prevailing conditions in the area. I explained to my colleague Minister Miliband the circumstances of the American aggression which took place in Syrian territory. We discussed relations between Syria and the European Union, and other matters that would lead to peace, security and stability in the region. I'm quite comfortable with the way the negotiations ended.

Associated Press: How do you respond to suggestions that the US said Syria has to stop foreign fighters?

FM: We're not their employee to protect their aggression and occupation, and then they blame us by killing our civilians.

Hala Jaber, The Times: This is the third time there's a foreign aggression on Syria.

FM: In a region where the Americans plot to implement their economy and their future by extortion, when they see that Syria stands independent and takes resolutions in accordance with the interest of its people, we must expect this type of aggression, as long as we're independent and standing against American plans in the region.

BBC: What message does Syria have to the next American government?

FM: I hope the American people would elect a president who can bring a good reputation for the US in the world, not like this reputation we're witnessing from this administration. We hope the coming administration will learn from this administration, and work to save American lives and other people's lives for causes that can be solved politically.

James Blitz, Financial Times: Have the events undermined…the rapprochement with France and Europe? Have you invited Miliband to visit Syria?

FM: I've invited Mr Miliband, and I hope very soon he can visit Syria. I assure you that today's talks proved that undermining the rapprochement has failed.

Question: Was the goal of this aggression to affect opening channels with Syria?

FM: I'd hope not. The Europeans' rapprochement with Syria reflects the European Union leaders' belief that Syria has an important, central role in a troubled area. Syria has many times confirmed its role in what's happening and has played, especially during the last months, an important role in ensuring stability in the area as manifested in the status of Iraq and Lebanon, and we hope in the future of the peace process. This is why I say the European rapprochement towards Syria reflects Syria's importance in what's happening in the area.

Jeremy Bowen, BBC: Is Syria prepared to make a distance between itself and Iran?

FM: We have very good relations with Iran. We'll continue this relation with Iran as long as we're sure the Iranian nuclear programme is a peaceful one. Also, we'll continue our efforts to improve our relations with Europe, as long as this improvement is without preconditions.

Bowen: You're sharing intelligence and security cooperation with Europe. Are you saying that if Iran's nuclear programme wasn't a peaceful one, then you'll break your ties?

FM: They reassured us that their nuclear programme is peaceful. We have this type of cooperation with some European countries, and we have the political umbrella for such cooperation.

Question: Do you need or seek any help in making your border more secure and less open to attacks from anyone if they wish to?

FM: I refer to the American General Petraeus, who admitted that Syria has done its utmost to control its borders. But as with any borders in the world, you cannot seal it 100%. Second, you need a partner on the other side to control his side of the border. You need a partner with whom you can share information. You need a partner who doesn't put the responsibility of his failure on a third party.

Question: Do you accept that there's a flow of militants across the border?

FM: This can explain why there's a terrorist explosion in Damascus, because we'd tightened our borders with Iraq. It was an act of revenge because we're doing what we're doing. Unfortunately, they're not the only ones avenging our tightening of the borders. The Americans are rewarding us in what happened yesterday.

Ian Black, The Guardian: Were you asked to review relations with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas?

FM: We're seeking with this dialogue to narrow the gaps existing between the two sides. Today's talks have narrowed the gaps, but as is known about Syria for many years, we don't accept any preconditions to be imposed upon us.

Fatmeh Etawi, Asharq Al Awsat: Will these attacks have any effect on negotiations with Israel?

FM: With today's political crisis in Israel, which started on 18 September and which will end by the end of the period of early elections, there are no negotiations.

Al Hiwar: What's the secret behind the success of Syrian policies lately, despite the storms that the Arab countries have passed through?

FM: The patience of the Syrian people and their rallying around their leadership, and by the leadership in Syria and President Bashar Al Assad implementing an independent policy which takes into account the advantage of our people, these are the fundamental reasons for the success of this policy.

Ghassan Ibrahim, Al Arab: Do you expect President Bashar to visit London?

FM: The road is open and paved with all possibilities.

Question: The Saudi Foreign Minister said relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria need no mediator. What did he mean?

FM: This question should be directed to His Royal Highness Prince Saud Al Faisal. Was that directed to Syria, or to who's going to be a mediator?

Iranian News Agency: There are indirect negotiations between Israel and Syria…There has been some dramatic movements between Syrian and American diplomats…Will this affect Syria's relations with Iran?

FM: Not at all. We have good relations with Iran, this relation is continuing and we have political coordination. We have our interest in having this dialogue and good relations with Europe. They also have dialogue and relations with European countries. There's no contradiction here. They understand our interest, and they support what we're doing.

Question: A spokesman of the Iraqi government said the area which was hit had terrorist components and activities. How do you explain this?

FM: Firstly there's a security agreement for cooperation between the security bodies of both countries, and we were about to call for a wider security committee meeting for the neighbouring countries of Iraq which would also be attended by the permanent members of the Security Council, to be held in Damascus on the 22nd of next month (it will be the fourth meeting). But for a spokesman of the Iraqi government to say what you've said, I'm surprised and astonished that there should be an Arab person who has one drop of Arab blood in his veins who justifies this criminal aggression against his civilian brothers in Syria. I don't want to believe that he said what he said and still consider him an Arab.

BBC Arabic: How do you view diplomatic relations between Syria and Lebanon?

FM: Our Ambassador will very soon be in Beirut, and will look for a location for the Embassy. I want all Arab Ambassadors to be behind him.

Samia Nakhoul, Reuters: Who do you support, Obama or McCain to be elected?

FM: The best for the US, because for us they're equal.

Question: What was the Iraqi response to the attack and aggression?

FM: When I finish my press conference with you I'll respond to a call from Mr Hoshyar Zebari, the Foreign Minister of Iraq. I want to see what he wants from me.

Al Jazeera: You described the attack as an act of terrorism. What's your response going to be?

FM: Actually I learned about this attack while I was on my way from Damascus to Vienna, so the response to this attack will very much depend on what answers we'll get from the American administration and from the Iraqi government…I think that international law gives each country the right to defend its land and people. We hope we'll not arrive to a confrontation, but if that's what they want then we have no choice.

CNN: The Americans have been saying for a long time that terrorist are trotting over the borders. Did they give you any evidence?

FM: They never present evidence. We work closely with the Iraqi security authority, not the American authority. We exerted our utmost efforts, but nobody can seal the border 100%. You know from the American experience with Mexico, but we did our best. Unfortunately, we don't have a partner on the other side of the border to share information and to help tighten the borders. Anyway, as General Petraeus said many times, until recently, the Syrians exerted their utmost effort in controlling the borders. What happened yesterday is unjustified.

Question: How do you explain…what has happened?

FM: Maybe some people in the administration whom you know don't feel happy in seeing relations improve. Secondly, maybe they want to send a message to their allies in the region that the American policy vis-à-vis Syria isn't changing, it's deteriorating.