Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday invited Lebanon's prime minister to start peace talks, but Olmert ruled out peace talks with Syria, saying President Bashar Assad isn't a suitable negotiating partner.
According to the AP, Olmert said Assad must halt its support for armed Palestinian groups before the two nations can hold peace talks and dismissed the Syrian leader's calls for talks as a "negotiating tactic."
Olmert said that Israel made significant gains in its battle against Hizbullah. Thus, he urgrf Lebanon's prime minister, Fuad Saniora, to enter peace talks, saying the time has passed for indirect mediation between the nations.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
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