Jordan denies request to host Syrian - Israeli negotiations

Jordanian Deputy Premier and Information Minister Ayman al-Majali has denied reports in the Israeli press of having received a request from the US to host Syrian - sraeli negotiations after their launch in Washington.

In a statement to the United Arab Emirates' news agency, al-Majali said that his country did not receive any request in this regard from the sides concerned, adding that his country backs any effort that serves the restoration of peace.

Meanwhile, a Western diplomatic source in Amman said that the US prefers for the Syrian-Israeli negotiations to keep their secrecy.

The source told the agency that US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright sees having the negotiations far away from the region as serving their effectiveness, while the Israelis want these negotiations to continue in the region.