Sleiman to meet with Assad

Lebanese President Michel Sleiman today will meet with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al Assad in Damascus, just days after the formation of a unity government in Lebanon, Sleiman's spokesman said. "The president's day-long trip is part of a working visit," Adeeb Abi Akl said. "They will discuss bilateral relations." Mr Sleiman's visit marks his second trip to Syria since his election in May 2008. It comes just three days after prime minister Saad Hariri formed a unity government with the militant group Hizbollah and its allies following more than four months of tough negotiations.

Syria was the power broker in its smaller neighbour for nearly 30 years before the 2005 murder of Hariri's father, ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, who was close to the Saudi monarchy. * AFP