Bashar al-Assad to hold a western tour

The Lebanese magazine al-Sheraa said in its recent issue of May 27 released in Beirut that the first tour Bashar al-Assad will make after his elections in the regional leadership of the Baath Party on June 17, 2000 will be to the west and would cover Britain and the US.

The magazine added that al-Assad had held several private visits to London, but his first official visit will be after he had acquired his new position, noting that al-Assad's visit to the US will be his first during which he will meet with American officials in various posts.