Arafat, Assad to meet in Amman

The Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, has offered his support to the Palestinians and proposed an end to years of sour relations with their leader, Yasser Arafat.

Speaking at the summit in Amman, he said Syria was now offering its hand to the Palestinians and that the past should be forgotten.

The two leaders are expected to meet for talks on the sidelines of the summit later today.

The Palestinian Information Minister, Yasser Abed Rabbo, was quoted as saying he believed there was a real chance that all forms of consultation and cooperation between would resume. In his speech, the Syrian leader also launched a stinging attack on Israel, accusing it of being more racist than the Nazis. Correspondents say relations between Damascus and Mr Arafat have been chronically strained since he signed peace accords with Israel in 1993.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service