CAIRO, July 22 (AFP) - Egypt and Syria called on the Palestinians on Thursday to unite in the face of a deep political and security crisis that is proving the greatest ever challenge to Yasser Arafat's leadership.
Syrian Foreign Minister Faruq Al-Shara, who held talks with Egyptian officials here, said at a press conference that unity "was an essential element for the establishment of a Palestinian state."
Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said Cairo was in contact with all players on the Palestinian political scene to persuade them to work together to end "all confrontations."
Shara also met President Hosni Mubarak for talks focused on the Middle East and the situation in Iraq and said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad would be visiting Egypt in the next few days.