Opening of international conference on Syria chaired by Iran

An international conference chaired by Iran on the conflict in Syria opened in the capital Tehran on August 9 with the participation of delegates from nearly 30 countries, including Russia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Speaking at the opening of the conference, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi called for "serious dialogue with the participation of all relevant parties" between the Syrian government and opposition groups, and advised that national dialogue is the only way to resolve the political crisis that is overshadowing this Middle Eastern country.

(Source: telegraph.co.uk)

"Tehran rejects any foreign intervention or military action against Syria and supports UN efforts to resolve this crisis," Salehi stressed.

According to observers, Tehran has declared that it will not let President Bashar al-Assad's government collapse, but in recent days, Foreign Minister Salehi has "opened the door" for Iran to mediate peace in the crisis in Syria by inviting the Syrian opposition to participate in dialogue with the Damascus government.

In a related development, on the same day, the rebel Free Syrian Army (FSA) completely withdrew from Salaheddin district in Aleppo city in northern Syria amid the government's victory. Hossam Abu Mohammed, an FSA commander, said: "We have carried out a tactical withdrawal from Salaheddin... The district is now completely empty of rebel fighters." Another FSA commander confirmed this, adding that the tactical withdrawal was to open a new front in the Saif al-Dawla and Mashhad areas.

Meanwhile, Lebanese officials said the country's security agency had arrested former information minister and member of the Lebanese Parliament Michel Samaha, but did not provide further details about the arrest.

Local security sources said authorities had sealed off and searched Mr. Samaha's homes in Ashrafieh, Beirut, and Khanshara, Metn, for sensitive security reasons. He is currently being questioned by judicial authorities. The arrest came as a surprise to Beirut's political establishment. Mr. Samaha has close ties to Syrian President Assad and his close advisers.

In another development, Italian police said they had just detained a fishing boat carrying 157 people, including 124 Syrian citizens fleeing escalating violence in the country. These people were stopped near the southern coast of Italy and taken to the port of Crotone, Italy, on the evening of August 8./.

According to (TTXVN) - DT