Assad meets American congressmen in Damascus

President Assad of Syria has held talks in Damascus with a group of American congressmen who are leading a delegation of Arab-Americans.

The Syrian news agency SANA said Mr Assad reiterated his willingness to re-start peace talks with Israel from where they left off two years ago.

The Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has insisted that negotiations with Syria can only resume without pre-conditions.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service