IRAN
- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem says Damascus will use all its capacities to secure the release of the Iranian pilgrims held captive by Syrian insurgents.
Muallem made the remark in a meeting with visiting Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili on Tuesday.
On August 4, 48 Iranians, travelling on a bus from Damascus International Airport to the shrine of Hazrat Zeinab (AS) on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, were abducted by insurgents.
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- Jalili, for his part, pointed to Iran's policy of supporting the world nations in restoring their political, social and economic rights and said the lack of serious and practical support on the part of certain Western and regional countries for the democracy trend in Syria has further revealed the true nature of the so-called advocates of democracy.
During the meeting, both sides also discussed a Syrian plan aimed at resolving the crisis in the Arab country and restoring stability there, and discussed ways to launch the bid based on the six-point plan proposed by outgoing UN-Arab League envoy to Syria Kofi Annan.
Syria has been experiencing unrest since mid-March 2011.
Damascus says 'outlaws, saboteurs, and armed terrorists' are behind the unrest while the West and the opposition accuse the security forces of killing protesters.