On Powell's message to al-Shara

The London- based al-Hayat daily issued on Friday quoted diplomatic sources in Damascus as saying that Arab and European efforts were exerted with Washington in order to give positive signals towards reviving the negotiations on the Syrian track in the context of the American war against terrorism.

The paper said that Damascus has not opposed nor supported the American raids at Afghanistan but only stressed the need not to endanger civilians and not to violate the Afghani borders.

The paper indicated that the Syrian official sources did not declare how al-Shara has got the message from his US counterpart Colin Powell on Thursday in which Powell stressed Washington's commitment to work for achieving a just and comprehensive peace according UN resolutions.

On the other hand, the official responsible for the foreign department at the People's Front For the Liberation of Palestine Maher al-Taher said in a statement to the paper ( al-Hayat) that Syria will not be subjected to any outer pressures concerning the existence of his front's officials in Damascus.

Al-Taher added that his contacts with the Syrian officials continue.