US Secretary of state to visit Syria

The Monte Carlo radio correspondent in Washington on Friday quoted well-informed US forces as saying that The US secretary of state Colen Powel is seriously studying to add Syria and Jordan to the list of countries he will visit by the end of the current month within the framework of a tour for him in several Arab states.

To this effect, the Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas on Friday quoted well-informed diplomatic sources in Washington saying that Powel had discussed the question of his visit to Syria and Jordan with the countries he will visit during his tour in the Middle east by the end of this month during telephone calls he recently held with the Syrian foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and with the Jordanian King Abdullah II.

The sources added that more than one Arab and American sides recommended Powel to stop in Damascus due to Syria's pivotal position and its importance concerning various issues he will debate.