SQL syntax

Forsøger, at slette TABEL, men får en syntax fejl. Et bud på en løsning?

<?php
$conn = mysql_connect("xxx", "xxx", "xxx");
mysql_select_db("xxx");
$sql = " DELETE `TABEL` ";
mysql_query($sql) or die( mysql_error() );
mysql_close();
?>

You have an error in your SQL syntax near 'DELETE `TABEL` ' at line 1