Syrian ambassador in Washington denies meeting with Israelis

Syria's ambassador in Washington Walid al-Mu'allim has denied news reports brodacast by Israeli television that Syrian and Israeli negotiators met for the first time in two years at a forum organized by James Baker's third Institute for public policy in Houston, Texas.

Al-Mu'allim said, "There was no meeting, not even to shake hands. I have read a lecture in which I stressed the need to resume talks with Israel at the point from which they broke off." Chairman of the political planning commission at the Israeli Cabinet court David Bar Ilan said that Israel and Syria "took part in a discussion meeting of interest to the two sides."