Syrian President Bashar Assad defended Lebanon's Hizbullah against allegations that the Shiite movement planned to carry out multiple attacks in Egypt. "What is Hizbullah's aim behind this?" Assad said in remarks published on Tuesday by Asharq al Awsat newspaper. "Hizbullah has no reason to do this, and it has denied that," Assad added.
He was referring to Cairo's accusations that the so-called Hizbullah cell arrested recently in Egypt plotted attacks against Israeli tourists in Egypt. "They (Hizbullah) said they have nothing against Egypt or the Egyptians," Assad stressed, adding that neither Hamas nor Hizbullah would attack Israel via Syrian territory.
Regarding the peace talks with Israel, the Syrian leader said he got closer for agreement with former Israel's prime minister Ehud Olmert compared to his father who negotiated with Israel until 2000. According to Assad, he heard from the Turkish mediators that Olmert was ready for full withdrawal from the occupied Golan Heights.
