Khatami message to al-Assad concerning Iraq

The Iranian ambassador in Damascus, Hussein Sheikh al-Islam, said that Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi will visit Damascus next Saturday to convey a message from Iranian President Muhammad Khatami to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad pertaining to developments in the region, especially the situation in Iraq.

He added that his country "will only accept the fate of Iraq to be decided through its interests."

Meanwhile, the Iraqi opposition close to Damascus and Tehran arrived in Damascus on Tuesday to arrange meetings after they boycotted last week's New York conference.