A statement Friday said the syndicate was surprised by the decision to hold the congress of the Union of Arab Lawyers in Damascus between Jan. 18-22 and decided to boycott it.

It explained that at the last meeting, held in May in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, the Union did not discuss the agenda, venue or date of the next meeting.

The Lebanese lawyers also said their decision was dictated by the congress' agenda, which they opposed for failing to mention dramatic developments in Lebanon, including assassinations and bombings which many Lebanese blamed on Syria.

"Although we stress the importance that the Union of Arab Lawyers contributes to easing tensions between Lebanese and Syrian authorities, we were disappointed by the Union's secretariat general for being bluntly biased in preparations for the congress by failing to mention the threats, assassinations, and bombings to which Lebanon is exposed," the statement said.

Lebanon has been rocked by assassinations and bombings since October 2004, including the Feb. 14, 2005, killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, for which many Lebanese blame Syria.

Hariri's assassination sparked anti-Syria protests, forcing Damascus to pull out from Lebanon in April last year in line with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559. (UPI)