Solana discusses Lebanon crisis with Syrians

The European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana discussed the Lebanese crisis with Syrian leaders Wednesday on what was the first high-level visit by an EU official to Syria in more than two years. Syria through its state-run press welcomed Solana's visit as a good move "after a long absence." Solana came to Syria as on final stop of a three-nation attempt to mediate an end to the crisis in Lebanon, where the Hizbullah-led opposition has staged three months of mass protests in a bid to topple the government. He held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem and Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa on Wednesday morning and later met with President Bashar Assad.