DAMASCUS, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Syria underlined on Monday its support to the Palestinian Intifada (uprising) against Israel and the struggle for building an independent Palestine state with Jerusalem as its capital, the official SANA news agency reported.

   Syrian Speaker of the People's Assembly Mahmoud al-Abrash made the remarks while meeting with visiting Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Rawhi Fattouh.

   The two sides talked about the situation in the region, particularly the Israeli occupation and Palestinians' sufferings under "Israeli hostile policies and massacres", SANA said.

   They also discussed means of developing relations between Syrian People's Assembly and the PLC, SANA said, adding  Fattouh expressed appreciation over Syria's support to the Palestinian struggle.

   This is a first-ever official visit by PLC to Syria and a step toward recognition by Arab countries of Palestinian institutions, PLC vice chairman Hassan Kreisha was quoted as saying. Enditem