The foreign affairs adviser of Iranian spiritual guide Ayatollah Ali Khameini arrived in Damascus on Monday to congratulate President Bashar Assad, who was sworn in as Syria's president last week, Iranian diplomats said.
Ali Akbar Velayati will give Assad "the congratulations of the Leader of the Revolution Ali Khameini, the government and the Iranian people."
He will also travel to Qerdaha in northern Syria to pay his respects at the grave of Hafez Assad, the new president's father, who died last month after 30 years in power.
Velayati, Iran's former foreign minister, will travel Monday night to Lebanon, the diplomats said - DAMASCUS (AFP)
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
