Syrian FM Arrives in Riyadh for bilateral bridging

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday in another sign of warming ties between the two countries, the official Saudi SPA agency reported.

According to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), Moallem will convey a message from President Bashar al-Assad to King of Saudi Arabia Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud during the visit.

The Syrian FM was welcomed by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal and a number of senior officials at the King Khalid International Airport.

Meanwhile, an Arab diplomat said that Moallem would discuss with his counterpart, Prince Saud al-Faisal, means to bridge bilateral differences, including efforts to reconcile rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas.

Ties between Damascus and Riyadh nosedived after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri and were further strained by "Israel's" offensive against the Gaza strip in December and January.

The two sides began mending fences last month with a meeting between Assad and King Abdullah on the sidelines of an Arab summit in Kuwait. And earlier this month, Assad received Saudi intelligence chief Prince Meqrin bin Abdul Aziz with a message from the king on improving relations.