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Assad Urges U.S. Influence With Israel to Stop Tension
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has asked U.S. President Bill Clinton to use his influence with Israel to stop the escalation of tension in the region.
Assad received a call from Clinton Sunday evening and the two leaders discussed the grave situation in the Palestinian territories and south Lebanon, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.
Assad expressed the hope that the U.S. administration would exercise its influence with Israel so that measures conducive to calming the situation will be adopted by the Jewish state.
Holding Israel responsible for the mounting tensions in the region, Assad pointed out the solution to the problem should be integrated and comprehensive.
Raging clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces entered their 11th day Sunday, which have left over 90 people dead and more than 2,000 others injured, mostly Palestinians and Israeli Arabs.
On Saturday, Syrian-backed Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas kidnapped three Israeli soldiers along the Israeli-Lebanese border.
Hours later, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak issued ultimatum to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to ask him to stop clashes within 48 hours, or face full force of Israel. Barak also held Syria, the powerbroker in Lebanon, ultimately responsible for the abduction of the three Israeli servicemen.
He also vowed to use all means to secure the safe return of the soldiers. A flurry of diplomatic activity are being conducted to head off exacerbation of the situation in the region.
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