WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The White House said on Thursday that the meeting between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem on the sidelines of a conference on Iraq is a conversation rather than a formal negotiation.

    "Any conversations would not be bilateral discussions. They would not be formal negotiations," White House spokesman Tony Snow said of the meeting of Rice and Muallem.

    "The one and only topic, again, in Sharm el- Sheikh is to say: 'It is time now to step forward and support the government of Iraq.' That is the strong message that is being sent," said Snow.

    Rice met with Muallem on Thursday afternoon on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the International Compact with Iraq, which was being held in Sharm el- Sheikh, Egypt.

    It is the first meeting of such kind since November of 2004, when then outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell held a bilateral meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara.

    The United States has been accusing Syria of allowing terrorists to enter Iraq to fight against the U.S.-led coalition troops, and reluctant to have negotiations with Syrian officials. Syria has denied the charges. ¡¡