US senator in Syria talks

The American senator, Arlen Specter, has met President Hafez al-Assad of Syriafor talks on the Middle East peace process and bilateral relations.

Few details of their meeting in Damascus have emerged.

Mr Specter told reporters beforehand that President Clinton wanted to play an active role in reviving peace talks between Syria and Israel, which have been stalled for nearly two years.

Mr Specter is reported to have taken Mr Assad a message from the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, but declined to give any details.

Meanwhile, it's been announced that Syria's Vice-President, Abdel Halim Khaddam, and Foreign Minister, Faruq al-Shara, are to visit France tomorrow.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service