Lebanon's president says he wants diplomatic ties with Syria
By PARIS
Lebanon's president says he wants to establish diplomatic ties with Syria and to visit Damascus.
Michel Suleiman said Saturday that Lebanon "wants an exchange of ambassadors and diplomatic relations with Syria."
Suleiman was speaking to reporters Saturday before talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad at the French president's palace.
The two countries have not had diplomatic relations since 2005, when former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was killed. Syria's critics accuse Damascus of having a role in the slaying, a charge Syria denies.