On al-Sharaa's visit to Russia

Well-informed sources told BBC radio on Friday that the visit of Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa to Russia on Tuesday may be in preparation for the visit to be paid by President Hafez al-Assad to Moscow in the near future.

The report added that the question of Syria's attempt to obtain S 300 missiles was recently raised and provoked the US to extend warnings to Russia on the consequences of supplying Syria with such missiles.

However, in a press conference held in Damascus on Wednesday, Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam denied that his country seeks to own these missiles.