Confidence entrusted by Khatami on President al-Assad

A high-ranking diplomatic sources told the Kuwaiti daily al-Qabas on Sunday that Iranian President Muhammad Khatami who concluded his visit to Damascus on Sunday has offered "full confidence" to President al-Assad concerning ways of dealing with the "diplomatic operation in the Middle East."

The source added that the two Presidents agreed to maintain "full bilateral coordination" with Saudi Arabia in order to prevent any plan aiming at partitioning Iraq.

The source indicated that the delegation accompanying President Khatami considers the situation in Iraq as becoming "more crucial" and that development taking place requires continued cooperation and that developments may occur in a way which requires continued cooperation with regional sides concerned.