President Ahmadinejad arrives in Syria, welcomed by President Assad

Damascus, Sept 18, IRNA – President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived here Saturday heading a high-ranking delegation and was welcomed by President Bashar al-Assad.

The Iranian President is in Syria on the first leg of his three-nation visit which would later take him to Algeria and the US where he is to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

The two presidents are to exchange views on major bilateral, regional and international developments during President Ahmadinejad stop over in Damascus.

President Ahmadinejad is accompanied by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Hosseini, Minister of Housing Ali Nikzad and a number of his deputies and advisors including Vice-President for Legal Affairs Fatemeh Bodaghi, Head of Iran's state television Ezzatollah Zarghami and Head of Presidential Office Esfandiar Rahim-Mashaee.

President's Advisor for Press Affairs and Head of Iran's state news agency (IRNA) Ali-Akbar Javanfekr is also a member of the Iranian delegation./end