| November 2008 - News |
| November 2008 |
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Hamas’ Mashaal calls for thaw of Saudi-Syrian relations Hamas political leader Khaled Mashaal called for an improvement in Saudi-Syrian relations during a recent visit to Saudi Arabia, an Arab diplomat told AFP on October 6. During meetings with Saudi officials, Mashaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, emphasised the importance of mending ties between the two countries, the diplomat said. Syrian-Saudi relations were severed following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a close Saudi ally, in February 2005. Anti-Syrian critics have long accused Syria of Hariri’s murder. Damascus vehemently denies the allegation. Last February, Saudi Arabia recalled its ambassador to Damascus in protest over Syria’s alleged interference in Lebanon’s political affairs. Diplomatic relations showed no signs of improving when Saudi leaders boycotted this year’s Arab League summit held in Damascus last March. In recent weeks tensions between the two countries resurfaced with Syrian media sources complaining the Saudi government did not condemn the Damascus car bombing which killed 17 people last month. Meanwhile, Syrian authorities banned al-Hayat, the only Saudi-owned daily in Syria, on October 2. This prompted the resignation of Ibrahim Hamidi, the newspaper’s chief correspondent in Syria, who was quoted as saying: “I couldn’t take it anymore. I terminated my work with al-Hayat because I cannot be part of a newspaper that is engaged in a systematic campaign against Syria.” |