Lakhdar Brahimi (L), the joint UN-Arab League envoy, speaks with reporters following a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, Syria, Oct. 21 2012. (Xinhua/Hazim)
DAMASCUS, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday stressed support to the efforts of the UN-Arab League representative Lakhdar Brahimi, adding that his country is open to all sincere efforts to find a political solution to the crisis on the bases of respecting Syria's sovereignty and rejecting foreign intervention, the state-run SANA news agency reported.
Assad made the remarks after his meeting with Brahimi in Damascus, saying that any initiative or political process should be essentially based on halting terrorism and the commitment of the countries allegedly involved in providing funds to the rebel groups.
For his side, Brahimi made an appeal to all conflicting parties in Syria that they observe a cease-fire during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, noting that all the influential countries that he had recently toured in the region strongly supported the idea.
Brahimi said he had discussed the cease-fire initiative with President Assad. However, he stopped short of revealing what was Assad's response.
Assad also gave no explicit stance towards the cease-fire proposal but said that Syria backs the efforts of Brahimi.
While the talks were taking place, two blasts rocked Syria's key cities of Damascus and Aleppo and resulted in a number of casualties and property damages.
DAMASCUS, Oct.20 (Xinhua) -- A number of leading Syrian opposition figures at home welcomed on Saturday the cease-fire proposal put forward by the UN-Arab League (AL) joint envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, who has recently called for a halt of fighting in Syria during the upcoming four-day Muslims holiday of Eid al-Adha. Full story
DAMASCUS, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al- Moallem met here on Saturday with the visiting UN-Arab League joint special representative Lakhdar Brahimi, during which they discussed the results of Brahimi's regional tour that aimed to garner support for a peaceful solution to the Syrian crisis. Full story
BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday said it welcomes the statement by leaders of the United Nations and the League of Arab States (AL) which called for a ceasefire in conflict-torn Syria during the upcoming Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. Full story
UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon said on Friday that the international community has a moral responsibility to end the ongoing violence in Syria, a UN spokesman told reporters here. Full story
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