Powell - Obeid press conference

US. Secretary of State Colin Powell yesterday described his talks with President Bashar al-Assad as frank and cordial.

In a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart, Jan Obeid on Saturday following his talks with Lebanese officials, Powell indicated that the United States is committed to a comprehensive solution that includes Syria and Lebanon and the Golan.

He added that his country is also committed to just and comprehensive peace in the region and to a solution that ensures the interests of Syria and Lebanon, stressing that peace should prevail in the whole region.

For his part, Obeid stressed that Syria and Lebanon want to ease the suffering of the Iraqi people.

To that effect Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received on Saturday a phone call from his Lebanese Counterpart Jan Obeid about the two states' coordination and the exchange of views. US State Secretary Colin Powell' s visit to Syria and Lebanon was assessed during the conversation.