President starts overseas trip

SANA'A, Feb. 23 (Saba) - President Ali Abdullah Saleh headed on Monday for Syria on the first leg of an overseas trip that will include stops in Russia, Tajikistan and Indonesia.

Kicking off his trip with a two-day visit to the Arab state, President Saleh will
discuss with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Asad the bilateral relationship and
issues of mutual concern.

The two leaders will also highlight efforts for pan-Arab reconciliation in light of
the outcomes of the Damascus and Kuwait summits and previous Arab summits.

Furthermore, they will deal with efforts to reconcile Palestinian factions and the
situation in the Gaza strip after the recent Israeli assaults.

The latest developments including the situation in Gaza in the wake of the recent
Israeli offensive on the strip and piracy off the coast of Somalia are likely to be
of the main topics of Saleh's tour which also takes him to Russia, Tajikistan and
Indonesia.

President Saleh will discuss with the leaders the bilateral relationship and means
to promote mutual cooperation with each country of them.

His talks with the leaders of the three countries will also deal with the latest
developments in the region particularly the situation in Gaza in the wake of the
recent Israeli offensive and the situation in Somalia.

President Saleh will discuss ways to coordinate efforts with the three countries to
bring peace and stability to Somalia and reorganize its institutions under the new
leadership of Somalia.