Khaddam conveys a message from al-Assad to Putin

Upon arrival in Moscow, Syria's Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam told reporters that he would hold talks with the Russian side on all issues of mutual interest to Syria and Russia. He added that it is natural that the Iraqi issue would be in the lead of the issues of discussion.

The vice president pointed out that the Syrian and the Russian viewpoints, regarding the Iraqi issue, are almost the same. He called for enhancing efforts to prevent a war.