Al-Assad confers with Algerian, Iranian FM s

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Friday at al-Rawda palace received the Algerian foreign minister Abdul Aziz Balkhadem, who is also the chairman of the Algerian side in the Algerian- Syrian joint committee.

The meeting was attended by the deputy premier and foreign minister Farouk al-Shara and the Algerian ambassador in Damascus.

Discussions dealt with conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories and the importance of supporting the Intifada of the Palestinian people.

Discussions also dealt with "the importance of changing the Arab position from rhetoric exchange to effective inter- Arab solidarity in challenge of current onslaughts."

Works of the Syrian- Algerian joint committee as well as issued of mutual concern were reviewed.

On Friday evening President al-Assad also received the Iranian foreign minister Kamal Kharazi and members of the accompanying delegation.

The meeting was attended by foreign minister al-Shara and the Iranian ambassador in Damascus.

Discussions dealt with the development of conditions in the occupied Palestinian territories committed by Israel against the Palestinian people.

Discussions also dealt with the need of maintaining coordination and consultations between the two countries in support of the steadfastness of the Palestinians and their Intifada.