Al-Shara meets with Iraqi, Turkish officials in Kuala Lumpur

Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara received today at his residence in Kuala Lumpur Periodic Chairman of the Iraqi Interim Ruling Council, Eyad Allawi.

Talks during the meeting dealt with the latest developments in the region particularly in Iraq.

Ellawi briefed al-Shara on the current situation in Iraq and on the hard circumstances facing the Iraqi people during this critical stage.

Al-Shara stressed Syria's care for Iraq's sovereignty and integrity and for ending the American occupation of Iraq.

Al-Shara also met Turkish Deputy Prime Minister, Abdullah Gul. Talks between them touched upon the regional situation particularly in Iraq.

View points were identical regarding the necessity for the presence of a timetable for the American forces' withdrawal from Iraq, SANA reported.

They also stressed the importance of the Islamic Conference Organization's role in preserving Iraq's sovereignty and integrity.

Gul denounced the Israeli aggression on the Syrian lands describing it as a "violation of the Syrian sovereignty and international law."

The two sides agreed on continuing the consultations between the two Foreign Ministries for the best benefit of both countries and of the region's stability and security.