Syria's President Bashar al-Assad received on Thursday Assistant US Secretary of State William Burns and an accompanying delegation, according to the official SANA news agency.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara as well.
According to a press release from the Department of State, Burns made clear during the talks that the U.S. expects Syria and Lebanon to use their influence to rein in Hizbullah.
Referring to the latest escalation on the Lebanese southern front with Israel, Assad said "it is no longer acceptable to shut ones eyes to actions of killing and assassinations Israel practices (in the Palestinian territories) while the Lebanese side is asked to be calm and self-restrained." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
