Syria's Assad makes first visit to Egypt since Lebanon pullout

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived Thursday on his first visit to Egypt since Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon.
Assad went into talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on the Middle East conflict, Iraq and Syrian-Lebanese ties after Syria's pullout, Mubarak's office said.
Syria ended its 29-year military presence of neighbouring Lebanon last month after coming under intense international and Lebanese pressure.
Last week, US President George W. Bush renewed sanctions on Syria, charging that Damascus was supporting terrorism and undermining Washington's efforts to stabilize and rebuild Iraq.

05/12/2005 10:26 GMT