In the framework of their continuing consultations, President Mubarak Tuesday held a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad at the presidential Palace in Heliopolis during which they reviewed the developments at Arab and regional arenas and the progress of Arab and international efforts for narrowing the gap between the Syrian and Lebanese stances.

Talks were attended on the Egyptian side by Prime Minister Dr. Ahmed Nazif, Minister of Defense Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit, Chief of the Presidential Cabinet Dr. Zakaria Azmi, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and the members of the Syrian delegation.

On the other hand, and at a joint press conference with his Syrian counterpart Farouk Al-Shara, Abul Gheit, said the two leaders discussed a host of bilateral and regional issues, mainly the international investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, the related UNSC resolution and Syria's response to it.

The two leaders have also tackled Egyptian-Syrian relations and voiced full satisfaction with the development of these ties, added Abul Gheit.

On his part, Shara said Damascus has greatly contributed to clearing the atmosphere not only in Syria and Lebanon, but also in the entire region as well.

Shara said his country's full cooperation with the investigating team was welcomed in Syria in particular, the entire region and at the international level in general.

Damascus will go ahead with its cooperation so that the UN team can reach the truth, he pointed out.

The situation in Iraq is in progress, Syrian foreign Minister Farouk Al-Shara said, noting that the recent Iraqi elections would help improve security conditions, prevent eruption of a civil war and help improve relations between Arab countries and Iraq.

Asked about those behind accusations leveled against Syria whenever an explosion took place in Lebanon, the Syrian Foreign Minister said no definite accusation could be brought against anyone. There were no fundamental differences between the Lebanese people as they are one nation.

Syria is bearing the brunt of these accusations and campaigns, he said, noting that the time would come when the Lebanese and Arab peoples would discover that those accusations were baseless.

The report presented by the head of the UN Detlev Mehlis, to the UNSC on Hariri's killing did not involve accusations against Syria, he said.

In reply to a question on how Syria will deal with the Lebanese crisis, he pointed out that Mehlis was replaced by a new chief and that Damascus had decided to deal seriously with him and in a constructive way to help the international investigator reach the truth.

Damascus is ready to receive the new investigator after being officially appointed, he said. Damascus will not seek to cast doubts on the former investigations, Shara said, pointing out, however, to what he said "false witnesses" who had narrow interests that neither served the investigation nor the truth.