Saudi role in Clinton's meeting with al-Sharaa

Well-informed sources told the London based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily in statments published Friday that Saudi Arabia has played a key role in arranging the meeting which was held on Wednesday in Washington between US President Bill Clinton and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa in the White House.

Meanwhile, the Saudi ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz described to the paper the meeting between Clinton and al-Sharaa as "an important point in the peace map in the region."

He added that the meeting was "a positive step" and a good indication, "We are backing the Syrian stand to restore their rights and the Lebanese position, in particular."