Region | Syria
Lebanese and Syrian president meet in bid to improve bilateral ties
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Damascus on Wednesday in a visit to improve bilateral ties that have thawed since the recent end of a political crisis in Lebanon.
- Agencies
- Published: 20:14 August 13, 2008
Damascus: Lebanese President Michel Suleiman met Syrian President Bashar Al Assad in Damascus on Wednesday in a visit to improve bilateral ties that have thawed since the recent end of a political crisis in Lebanon.
It was Suleiman's first visit to Syria since his election in May as part of a Qatari-mediated deal that defused a bitter political conflict between an anti-Syrian majority coalition and an alliance of groups backed by Damascus.
"Syria is ready to restore ties to normal. The aim today is to clear the atmosphere and correct the relations," the state-controlled Tishreen newspaper said, acknowledging there has been "errors" in bilateral relations.
Syria had dominated Lebanon until the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri triggered pressure for it to end a 29-year military presence in the country.
Meanwhile insecurity in Lebanon still lingered after a bomb blast in the northern city of Tripoli killed at least 18 on Wednesday, including nine soldiers. Syria condemned the attack.
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