Monday February 16, 2009
Syria's Assad meets Saudi intelligence chief
DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief on Sunday in a rare high-level encounter between the two countries that differ sharply on Arab and regional issues.
Prince Muqrin bin Abdul-Aziz gave Assad a message from Saudi King Abdullah about "bilateral ties and the importance of consultation and coordination between the two sides", the official news agency said.
Assad and Abdullah met briefly at a summit in Kuwait in January shortly after the end of Israel's three-week assault on Gaza. Assad said late last month that there have been no practical steps to improve ties since.
Relations between Saudi Arabia, which is ruled by a Sunni monarchy, and Damascus plummeted over Syria's policy toward Lebanon and Syria's decision to reinforce its alliance with Shi'ite Iran in the last few years.
Damascus and Riyadh back opposing political forces in Lebanon and former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was assassinated in Beirut in 2005, was well connected with the Saudi monarchy and had Saudi nationality.
A United Nations investigation implicated Syrian security officials in the killing. Damascus denied involvement.
The latest Israeli offensive in Gaza further worsened relations, with Syria supporting the Palestinian group Hamas, which opposes the Saudi- and U.S.-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Copyright © 2008 Reuters
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