DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./SYRIA: U.S.- SYRIAN HIGH LEVEL MEETINGS AT SHARM EL-SHEIK

Rice meets with Syrian counterpart in first high-level meeting in years
by QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA,
Associated Press Writer

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt (AP) - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met Syria's foreign minister Thursday in the first high-level talks between the two countries in years, hours after the chief military spokesman in Iraq said Syria had moved to reduce ''the flow of foreign fighters'' across its border.

The Bush administration has shunned Syria, which it considers a state supporter of terrorism, and last month President Bush assailed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for making a trip to Damascus, saying it sent mixed messages to the Syrian government. But the White House has been under pressure to talk with Syria and Iran, another U.S. opponent in the region.

Still, a substantive U.S.-Iran meeting appeared less certain. The Iraqi government is pressing for Rice and her Iranian counterpart to hold talks during the gathering, saying Washington's conflict with the government in Tehran is only fueling the instability in Iraq.

In Baghdad, U.S. Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said Syria had tightened its borders to and reduced the number of foreign insurgents crossing into Iraq - a chief demand of the United States.
''There has been some movement by the Syrians ... there has been a reduction in the flow of foreign fighters into Iraq'' for more than a month, Caldwell said.

Rice and Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem met on the sidelines of Thursday's conference. Earlier, a senior State Department official said they would discuss ''Iraqi security issues.'' The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was still being arranged.

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1) Rice meets with Syrian counterpart in first high-level meeting in years