Al-Assad's participation at UN summit uncertain

Syrian senior official to the UN announced on Tuesday that there was no official confirmation that President Bashar al-Assad would head the Syrian delegation to UN summit in New York.

"We did not receive any official confirmation from the Syrian capital on whether President Bashar al-Assad will head the Syrian delegation to the United Nations Summit that will open September 14," Syria's Permanent Representative to the United Nations told the Syrian T.V. today.

Faysal Miqdad said that Syria was showing a great interest in this summit and the international action in general noting that the Syrian delegation in New York was following up standing political preparations for the summit.

Miqdad hoped the international interest in the summit would not be weakened following the nature catastrophe that hit the United States which occupied the US public opinion as well the international interest.

Syria's permanent representative to the UN voiced at the same time "Syria's strong sympathy with victims of this grave incident."