Annan ask Syria to help win release of 3 Israeli soldiers

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked Syria to "use its influence" to win the release of three Israeli soldiers - two captured by Hizbullah in a July 12 cross-border raid that started the war, and one captured by Hamas-linked gunmen in Gaza the previous month.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he supported their release, but raised the issue of Syrian prisoners held in Israel, Annan said. (AP)