Syria says any action against terrorism must spare civilians

Syria's foreign minister says the terror attacks on the United States were a horrible event.

He says his country is ready to support an international effort to combat terrorism - if it has clearly defined targets and spares civilians.

Farouk al-Sharaa says it is crucial the United Nations has a role in any mission and that the meaning of terrorism be defined.

Syria has repeatedly said it makes a distinction between terror and resistance to occupation, such as the Palestinian uprising.

Several groups classified as terrorist organisations by Washington are supported by Syria.

"All of us were shocked and all of us have thought and are still thinking how the world would look now and in the future," said al-Sharaa, referring to the attacks in the US.

"We would like to see this horrible event ... as a turning point in the history of all nations ... and out of the rubble and the ashes and the darkness we could see the light for the sake of humanity throughout the whole world," al-Sharaa said.

The Syrian official spoke at a news conference following a meeting between President Bashar Assad and a European Union team on a mission to bolster Arab support for the US-led coalition against terror.

He also quoted President Assad as telling the Europeans there "should never be any linkage between terrorism and the Arab world and the Islamic world".

Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel, who headed the EU team, says the meeting with Assad was "positive", although there were "some disagreements". He did not elaborate.