Iranian envoy delivers a message to President al-Assad

Syrian President Hafez al-Assad Tuesday received a communique from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami, during a meeting with Iranian envoy Muhammad Ali Abtahi at the Presidential Palace in Damascus.

The Iranian envoy arrived Damascus Monday night for a one-day visit to Syria after which he will head to Lebanon. Iranian sources said that Abtahi is carrying a message to the Syrian President to President Hafez al-Assad. No information was reported on the content of the message.

But the sources added that the visit of Abtahi aims at discussing bilateral relations and developments in the region, especially in south Lebanon. The sources added that Abtahi's visit precedes a series of Iranian official visits, to be started next week with the visit of the chairman of the Iranian Shoura council Natiq Nouri to Syria Nouri will also visit Lebanon, the sources said.