Syria gives pledge on 'wanted' Iraqis

Two US congressmen today said President Bashar Assad assured them Syria will not grant asylum to Iraqis wanted for war crimes and will expel any Iraqis who cross into the country.

The lawmakers, the first US officials to meet Assad since the recent escalation of US-Syrian tensions, also said they expected to see a decrease in the friction in the next few weeks, especially after US Secretary Colin Powell’s planned visit to Syria. No date has yet been set for the trip.