Syria Still on ‘Terrorist List,’ White House Says

President Reagan’s chief spokesman said today that Syria “remains on our terrorist list” and again called on Syrian President Hafez Assad to expel radical Palestinian leader Abu Nidal and his organization.

Deputy Press Secretary Larry Speakes made the remarks in response to an interview by Assad in Sunday’s Washington Post blaming Reagan for strained U.S.-Arab relations and hampering Syria’s efforts to obtain the release of four American hostages in Lebanon.

Speakes also told reporters that the Administration does not believe a war between Syria and Israel is imminent although tensions between the two countries have risen lately.

‘Bitter and Disappointed’

Assad told the newspaper that he is “bitter and disappointed” about what he views as threats from the Reagan Administration and a policy of alternately ignoring and confronting Syria.

Syria has drawn renewed attention from recent allegations by Israeli officials that it helped supply explosives to a Jordanian arrested in London for a failed attempt to blow up an El Al airliner April 17.

Assad, in the interview, denied involvement in that incident, and said he would not allow any terrorist action abroad to be based in Syrian territory--except for “cultural and political” activities of the Abu Nidal Palestinian group.

“It is well known that the Syrians have been approached both publicly and privately for information and assistance in obtaining the release of our hostages in Lebanon,” Speakes said in a statement.

“We continue our overtures to them--the Syrians--which have been going on for more than a year.”