Syria-Iran: US Offensive Promotes Urgent Meeting

Arabic News:

The Syrian and Iranian governments are to convene a high-level meeting in Damascus on Wednesday to discuss what they say is the "White House's offensive" against their two countries. Iran's delegation, led by vice president Parwiz Davoodi, will hold talks with Syrian officials headed by prime minister Naji al-Otri.

According to government sources, the meeting was prompted by recent accusations by US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who accused Damascus and Tehran of orchestrating some of the anti-Western riots related to the publication of satirical cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed.

Another source of concern for the two is Washington's decision to hand over 5 million dollars of aid to Syrian opposition groups and plans by the US Congress to approve a 85 million dollar package to promote democracy in Iran.