Damascus: Syria's state-run news agency says Iran's president has arrived in Damascus for talks amid rising tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours and US efforts to break up Syria's alliance with Tehran.
The agency says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Thursday morning but gave no further details.
During his visit, Ahmadinejad is expected to meet with his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, as well as officials from the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
Ahmadinejad's visit comes as the US announced the nomination of a career diplomat to become the first US ambassador to Damascus since 2005 and lifted an advisory on security concerns in Syria.
Washington's overtures to Syria, Iran's closest ally in the Arab world, coincide with rising tensions between the US and Tehran.
