LOC16:24
13:24 GMT
DAMASCUS, March 8 (KUNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki
arrived in the Syrian capital on Saturday for talks with local officials on
regional and international issues of common concern, it was officially
reported.
Officials said Mottaki would hold talks with President Bashar Al-Assad and
Foreign Minister Walid Al-Mu'allem on the Lebanese political question and
conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories in light of stepped-up
Israeli aggression on the Palestinian enclaves.
Mottaki's visit came three days ahead of a scheduled session of the
Lebanese Parliament to try elect a new president for the country where the
senior post has been vacant for months as a result of bickering among the
local factions, with which both Tehran and Damascus have links. It also
followed a recent meeting between Mottaki and his Saudi counterpart, Prince
Saud Al-Faisal, at Cairo Airport.
The two heavyweights, Iran and Saudi Arabia, in addition to Syria, are seen
as greatly influential on the Lebanese arena. (end)
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KUNA 081624 Mar 08NNNN