Lebanon's Saad Hariri heads to Syria

Damascus: Lebanon's prime minister, who has blamed neighbouring Syria for the assassination of his father, on Saturday visited Damascus for the first time since the 2005 killing - a trip that a close associate said was extremely difficult for him to make.

The 39-year-old Sa'ad Hariri was greeted warmly by Syrian President Bashar Al Assad upon his arrival at the presidential palace at the start of his two-day visit. He attended a dinner hosted by Al Assad.

Hariri appealed for relations with Syria based on "clarity and honesty".

Despite the unresolved issue of his father's slaying in a massive truck bombing in Beirut, Hariri's visit potentially opens the way for a new era in the two countries' relations, which have been characterised by upheaval and suspicion.

The visit by Hariri was "very difficult on the personal level" and involves "great sacrifice", said Hariri loyalist and former lawmaker Mustafa Alloush.

"But as prime minister of Lebanon, it is quite normal to have such a visit... It is necessary and there is a need to settle all aspects of the relationship."

Syria has repeatedly denied involvement in Rafik Hariri's assassination and a series of other political slayings and bombings that followed, but Hariri and his supporters continued to implicate Syria in the killing.

"But this matter is up to the international tribunal now it is no longer a personal issue," Alloush said.

UN tribunal

A UN-backed tribunal has been set up to prosecute the assassins, but no one has been charged.

Syria has sought recently to improve its relations with the West, largely through its actions in Lebanon. Al Assad backed a peace deal between rival political factions in Leban-on that ended sectarian violence in May 2008.

Last year, Syria established formal diplomatic relations with Lebanon and set up an embassy in Lebanon for the first time since the countries' independence from France in the 1940s.

Lebanese political sources expect the two leaders to agree on opening a new page in their personal relationship and on strengthening cooperation between their governments to guarantee Lebanon's stability.

Rapprochement between Syria and Saudi Arabia, which backs Hariri, earlier this year allowed Hariri, who won a parliamentary election in June, to form a unity government that includes Hezbollah and other Damascus allies.

Fact Box

Key facts on Syria's relations with its smaller neighbour since its troops first entered Lebanon in 1976:

The Civil War in Lebanon:

In May 1976, Syrian troops entered Lebanon after Muslim fighters along with the PLO had nearly defeated the Christian militias. Syrian troops stayed with the blessing of Saudi Arabia and  Egypt to maintain peace.

Israel invades Lebanon:

Rafik Al Hariri:

What's happening now:

Syria still has a significant amount of influence still in Lebanon, through the Shiite Amal and Hezbollah factions. As well as former Anti-Syrian advocate, Michel Aoun. Diplomatic relations were restored for the first time since Lebanese independence in 2008.