Leaders of Iran and Syria Vow to Back ‘Palestinian Resistance’

[oberliner]

DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) — The leaders of Iran and Syria reaffirmed their support on Tuesday for what they characterized as “Palestinian resistance,” a defiant message to the United States and its Middle East allies, which are uneasy over American efforts to forge closer ties with Iran.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran, who met with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, also spent time with the leaders of Hamas and other Palestinian radical groups based in Damascus. Iran is a strong supporter of Islamic militants in the region, including Hamas, which controls Gaza, and Hezbollah, which is based in Lebanon.

The Iranian president’s visit to Syria coincides with efforts by the United States to improve strained ties with both nations. Two American diplomatic envoys, Jeffrey Feltman and Daniel Shapiro, left Washington on Tuesday for Syria, their second visit in less than three months, to explore ways to ease tensions between the United States and Syria, the State Department said. Mr. Ahmadinejad and Mr. Assad made little specific mention of American diplomatic efforts at a news conference after their meeting.

But Mr. Ahmadinejad boasted that unnamed countries, which he said had tried for years to put pressure on Iran and Syria, now say they need support from the two countries to solve regional problems.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/world/middleeast/06syria.html?ref=world

[Alamuti Lotus]

1. Good, but let it be with more than fine words.

[bemildred]

2. So, still no freebies then. nt