Damascus (Syria), Aug 02: India and Syria today agreed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq must be protected at all cost even as Syrian President Bashar al Assad lauded New Delhi's decision against acceding to the US request to send troops to that war-torn country. "Both sides are of the view that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of iraq should be assured,'' external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha told newspersons after holding wide-ranging talks with al Assad and Deputy Prime Minister and foreign minister Farouk al Shara here.

Sinha, who is on a three-day visit to Syria, said that the Syrian President during 'free and frank'' exchange of views described as "positive" India's decision not to send its soldiers to Iraq till there was an explicit u n mandate on the issue.
Bureau Report