Sunni Shia relations 240907

Iran, S. Arabia seek to cement ties

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:05:19

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has conferred with his Saudi counterpart, Saud Al-Faisal on reciprocal and regional issues.

During this meeting, Mottaki referred to Iran's Intelligence Minister Gholam-Hossein Mohseni Ejei's visit to Saudi Arabia and described the Iranian envoy's meetings with Saudi officials as positive.

Mottaki termed the potential for expansion of relations and regional cooperation between Tehran and Riyadh as enormous, saying efforts should be made to exploit this potential.

The Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers called for vigilance and closer cooperation between the two Muslim states in order to foil the efforts of enemies to sow discord among Sunni and Shia groups.

The officials also emphasized the necessity of unity in the Muslim world and discussed Lebanon, Iraq as well as Palestine.

Mottaki is in New York to attend the UN General Assembly.

Source: Press TV

US plans to invite Syria to Mideast peace talks

09/23/2007

Ramallah: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Washington plans to invite six Arab states, including Syria, to a peace conference, Abbas's aides said.

Abbas's senior aide Nimer Hammad said yesterday Washington would like Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the Palestinian National Authority to attend the US-sponsored conference, expected to be held in November. "Rice told Abbas in their meeting on Thursday that the US plans to invite the Arab states delegated by the Arab League to follow up the Arab peace initiative. These ... states of course include Syria and Lebanon," Hammad said.

Gazans caught between Fatah-Hamas rivalry

Thousands of Gazans hoping to make a pilgrimage to Makkah got caught between rival Palestinian governments yesterday, with the West Bank administration announcing that those who registered for the trip with the Hamas rulers of Gaza won't be able to travel. The Haj will take place in December this year. The Islamic militant Hamas and its Fatah rival have accused each other of politicising religion.

Source: Gulf News