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| Jordan, Syria support
compromise president in Lebanon AMMAN - King Abdullah II of Jordan and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad voiced support Sunday for the election of a Lebanese president who meets the approval of both the ruling coalition and the opposition, according to Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Judeh. During a press conference, Judeh read out the text of a joint communique issued on the whirlwind, surprise visit by Abdullah to Damascus earlier in the day. "The two leaders underscored the necessity for reaching a compromise on the Lebanese presidential election so as to meet the constitutional aspect of the issue and in such a manner that safeguards Lebanon's stability and national interests," the communique said. Abdullah and al-Assad "expressed full respect for Lebanon's sovereignty, condemned all assassinations being committed in Lebanon and rejected all interventions in Lebanon's internal affairs." They underlined the importance of the "positive role which Syria can play to boost Lebanon's stability and security as well as their keenness on building normal ties between Syria and Lebanon based on mutual interest." Abdullah's unscheduled, rare visit to Syria came ahead of the Lebanese Parliament's scheduled meeting on Wednesday to elect a new president to succeed Emile Lahoud, whose term of office is due to expire on November 24. -DPA |
