US says still aiming for Syria-Israel peace deal

The United States assured Syria on Thursday that its focus on a securing a peace deal between the Palestinians and Israel would not deflect Washington from pushing for an Israeli-Syrian agreement.

"Our effort to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in no way contradicts or conflicts with our goal of comprehensive peace including peace between Israel and Syria," US Middle East envoy George Mitchell told reporters after meeting Syrian President Bashar Assad. (Reuters)