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Iranian team in Syria for talks over Lebanon

DAMASCUS: Iran's deputy foreign minister Mohammed Kazem Khonsari arrived in Damascus on Tuesday for talks with Syrian leaders on how to secure an end to Israel's bombardment of Lebanon, officials said.

"The visit is part of the diplomatic efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran to stop the Israeli aggression against Lebanon and to extend support to the Lebanese people," an Iranian official said.

He said the team would hold talks with Syrian leaders later on Tuesday on the latest developments in Lebanon and joint Syrian-Iranian efforts which should be taken.

The delegation will later go to Lebanon, he said.

At least 24 people, mostly civilians, have been killed and 127 wounded in the Israeli bombardment of Lebanon that began on Thursday in reprisal at rocket attacks by the pro-Iranian Hizbollah against northern Israel, where more than 40 people were wounded.

The Iranian delegation's visit to Damascus took place shortly after a phone conversation between French Foreign Minister Herve de Charette and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velayati on how to put an end to the fighting.

De Charette told reporters in Jerusalem he had asked Iran to use its influence to bring a speedy end to the fighting between Israel and Hizbollah (Party of God) in south Lebanon.

De Charette, sent by French President Jacque Chirac to try to win a ceasefire between Israel and Hizbollah, also met Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres on Monday to discuss a ceasefire.

US President Bill Clinton said on Tuesday the United States was working also hard to try to stop the clashes between Israeli forces and the Shi'ite Moslem guerrillas.

But Syria and Iran condemned Washington for backing Israel's assault against Hizbollah, saying the move represented total bias to Israel.

The United States blamed Hizbollah for provoking the flare- up saying its rocket attacks against northern Israel had led to the Israeli blitz of Lebanon.

De Charette is due to arrive in Damascus later on Tuesday for talks with Syrian leaders on the same issue. He will then go to Beirut for talks with Lebanese leaders.

Syria, the main foreign power broker in Lebanon where it has some 35,000 troops, is Iran's closest Arab ally.

Tehran has close ties with fellow Shi'ite Hizbollah, which is leading resistance against the Israeli presence in Lebanon. Hizbollah officials say Tehran has provided them with military, financial and political support.

Syria and Iran have condemned the Israeli attacks against Lebanon and said the Lebanese people had right to resist Israeli occupation of their lands.-Reuter