Syria stalls on Israeli peace talks

Syria's President, Hafez al-Assad, rejected an Israeli proposal to end its occupation of south Lebanon before making full peace with Damascus. "Syria and Lebanon first - at the same time, in the same steps." President Assad said, after talks with Egypt's President, Hosni Mubarak.

President Assad said Benjamin Netanyahu's offer, submitted via the US, raised little hope of resuming peace talks between the two countries, which have been stalled since March. Reuter - Alexandria