Damascus supports Palestinian national unity gov't

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Syria's vice president told a senior Palestinian envoy Sunday that Damascus supports the formation of a Palestinian national unity government, Syria's official news agency reported. During a meeting with Former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, Farouk al-Sharaa said Syria supports "an agreement among Palestinian factions on the basis of national principles." According to SANA, he said such unity would be "the sole guarantee for strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people in the face of current challenges and achieving their legitimate aspirations for liberty and the establishment of an independent state." Syria hosts the exiled leadership of a number of Palestinian militant groups and could exert influence over Hamas, which currently heads the Palestinian government.