KHARTOUM, Sudan, (Islamweb & News Agencies)- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has begun a two-day visit to Sudan - the first by a Syrian president for more than 30 years. (Read photo caption below)
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Faruq al-Shara, who is accompanying the president, said the aim was to further improve bilateral relations and enhance Arab solidarity.
Earlier, his Sudanese counterpart, Mustafa Ismail said that the two presidents would be discussing the deteriorating situation in southern Sudan, and the escalating aggression by Israel against the Palestinian people.
The last visit to a Syrian head of state to Sudan was in 1967, when President Nuderddin al-Atassi attended an Arab summit meeting.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Syrian President Bashar Assad, left, is received at Khartoum airport by his Sudanese counterpart, General Omer el-Bashir Saturday Oct. 27, 2001. This is the first visit to the Sudan by Assad since he became president of his country over a year ago. (AP Photo/Abdel Raouf )