Al-Shara makes telephone call to Lebanese premier

Lebanese Premier and Foreign Minister Salim al-Hoss on Tuesday evening received a telephone call from Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara.

Official sources in Beirut said that al-Hoss and al-Shara discussed the subject of the message submitted by the Israel to the UN general secretariat on pullout from Lebanon.

The sources added that the two men agreed to continue consultation between their officials in such a critical stage.

On the other hand, Premier al-Hoss has stated that it is the first time in the history of the Arab Israeli conflict that Israel leaves an Arab land by force.

Commenting on the Israeli message to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, al-Hoss described Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon as a victory for Lebanon, its brave resistance and its steadfast people, asserting that this pullout of the Israeli forces is a big defeat for Israel.

He stated that the content of the Israeli message to Annan is under scrutiny and consultation.