- Title: SYRIA: Erdogan arrives in Syria to discuss the situation in Gaza
- Date: 1st January 2009
- Summary: DAMASCUS, SYRIA (DECEMBER 31, 2008) (REUTERS) SYRIAN PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD WELCOMING TURKISH PRIME MINISTER RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN ASSAD AND ERDOGAN HEADING TO THE MEETING HALL VARIOUS OF THE MEETING SYRIAN OFFICIALS TURKISH OFFICIALS WIDE OF THE MEETING
- Embargoed: 16th January 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Reuters ID: LVA9XOK0NZ2W8GMYGYOJQEFDIDZ8
- Story Text: Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Syria on Wednesday (December 31) as part of a four-country diplomatic push in the region to end hostilities between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas.
At his arrival, Erdogan met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and they both discussed the situation in Gaza and the ways to end the fighting.
Erdogan said he planned to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and would hold talks later on Wednesday with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba.
Erdogan, who described Israel's four-day offensive in the Gaza Strip as "merciless", said he also planned to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Jan. 1 and Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on Jan. 3.
Foreign powers have increased pressure on the two sides to end violence, which erupted after a six-month ceasefire expired on Dec. 19 and Hamas intensified rocket attacks from the Israeli-blockaded Gaza Strip.
Medical officials put Palestinian casualties at 385 dead. Four Israelis have been killed.
An Erdogan aide told Reuters he was not aware of plans by other members of the delegation to meet Hamas leaders in Damascus. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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