'Coordinate confrontation against Israel'

Syrian president quoted by Iranian news agency as calling for 'better coordination' between Damascus and Tehran against Israel

Yaakov Lappin
Published: 06.04.07, 16:50 / Israel News

Syrian President Bashar Assad has called for "better cooperation" between Damascus and Tehran in "the confrontation with the Zionist regime and the USA," according to a report published on Sunday by Iran's official state news agency, IRNA.

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The report, which was reproduced on the personal blog of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, quoted a telephone conversation between the two leaders, after Ahmadinejad congratulated Assad on winning the Syrian elections.

"President Ahmadinejad told his Syrian counterpart that his victory belongs to the freedom seeking nations and added the enemies cannot do anything in confrontation with vigilant nations," the report said.

"President Assad, for his part, appreciated Iran's support, especially the support of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei of (the) Syrian nation and added (that) coordination between Iran and Syria in (the) confrontation with the Zionist regime and the USA can bear better results in the future," it added.

The report comes amid growing support from Israeli politicians of an engagement of Syrian peace overtures, and as analysts debate whether Syria can be cut off from its alliance with Iran though a peace deal with Israel.

Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he would not hand over the Golan Heights to Syria if he were elected prime minister.

Meanwhile, a new feature on Ahmadinejad's blog has appeared in the form of scrolling text calling for the arrival of Imam Mahdi, revered by some Shiites as being the Islamic messiah. A number of Shiite scholars believe that the Mahdi's arrival is near, and that it will herald the start of an apocalyptic era, a view which President Ahmadinejad reportedly subscribes to.

"O, Almighty God, bestow upon humanity the perfect human being promised to all by You, and make us among his followers," the message said.

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