Saudi king in Damascus to mend fences with Assad

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah flew to Syria on Wednesday for talks with President Bashar Assad aimed at healing a rift that has aggravated Arab discord over Iran, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Lebanon.

Abdullah's visit to Damascus, his first as king, coincides with Syria's emergence from Western isolation as US President Barack Obama seeks its help in his quest for Middle East peace.

Assad met Abdullah at the airport and took him straight to a presidential palace in the Syrian capital, Syrian political sources said.

Diplomats in Damascus said an understanding between the Syrian and Saudi leaders could help forge a wider Arab stance helpful to Obama's peace efforts, promote formation of a new government in Lebanon, and assuage the fears of Sunni Muslim Arab powers regarding Shiite Iran, an ally of Syria.

"The two leaders have hot files on their hands. Palestine and the suffering of Gaza; Lebanon and its need for national unity; and Iraq," said Syrian state newspaper al-Thawra.

"Obama needs help, and Syria has leverage over militant groups opposed to his peace proposals," a political source said.

Syrian-Saudi ties froze after the 2005 assassination of Saudi-backed Lebanese statesman Rafik al-Hariri, whose allies blamed the killing on Damascus. Syrian denied any involvement.

Assad broke the ice last month when he visited Saudi Arabia and held two hours of talks with Abdullah, but has given no sign that he is willing to sever his alliance with Iran.