Opening of the international conference on Syria hosted by Iran.
An international conference hosted by Iran on the conflict in Syria opened in Tehran on August 9th with the participation of delegates from nearly 30 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq.
In his opening remarks at the conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called for "serious dialogue involving all relevant parties" between the Syrian government and opposition groups, and cautioned that national dialogue is the only way to resolve the political crisis casting a dark shadow over the Middle Eastern nation.
(Source: telegraph.co.uk)
Salehi emphasized: "Tehran rejects any foreign intervention or military action in Syria and supports the United Nations' efforts to resolve this crisis."
According to observers, Tehran had previously stated it would not allow President Bashar al-Assad's regime to collapse, but in recent days, Foreign Minister Salehi has "opened the door" for Iran to mediate the Syrian crisis by inviting the Syrian opposition to engage in dialogue with the Damascus government.
In a related development, on the same day, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel forces completely withdrew from the Salaheddin district in Aleppo, northern Syria, amid the government forces' gains. Hossam Abu Mohammed, an FSA commander, said: "We have carried out a tactical withdrawal from Salaheddin... The district is now completely free of rebel fighters." Another FSA commander confirmed this, adding that the withdrawal was intended to open a new front in the Saif al-Dawla and Mashhad areas.
Meanwhile, Lebanese officials said that security forces had arrested Michel Samaha, the former information minister and member of parliament, but provided no further details about the arrest.
Local security sources said authorities sealed off and searched Samaha's residences in Ashrafieh, Beirut, and Khanshara, Metn, due to security concerns. He is currently being questioned by judicial authorities. The arrest came as a surprise to political circles in Beirut. Samaha has close ties to Syrian President Assad and his close advisors.
In other news, Italian police said they have seized a fishing boat carrying 157 people, including 124 Syrian citizens fleeing escalating violence in their country. The group was intercepted near the southern Italian coast and taken to the port of Crotone on the evening of August 8th.
According to (VNA) - DT
