SYRIA: TOP IRANIAN OFFICIAL IN DAMASCUS FOR TALKS

Damascus, 12 July (AKI) - Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani travelled to the Syrian capital, Damascus, on Wednesday to meet Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and deputy president Faruq al-Sharaa. Talks will focus on bilateral relations between the two countries and the international situation which sees Tehran at the centre of an international crisis over its nuclear programme. Western powers fear the plan is aimed at building nuclear weapons.

Larijani has just ended a European tour to discuss a package of economic, political and technology incentives offered by six world powers to convince Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.