DAMASCUS, Jan 20: Syrian President Bashar al-Assad pledged on Saturday to work with the Iraqi authorities to wipe out “terrorism,” on the final day of a landmark visit by Iraqi counterpart Jalal Talabani.

The two heads of state, whose countries only restored relations in November after a 26-year rupture, held “frank, sincere and positive” discussions on the situation both in Iraq and the region, the SANA news agency said.

In a joint statement issued as Talabani wrapped up the first visit to Syria by an Iraqi head of state in three decades, the two leaders condemned “all forms of terrorism plaguing the Iraqi people and their institutions, infrastructure and security service.” Assad, whose regime US commanders accuse of turning a blind eye to the smuggling of men and weapons to insurgents in Iraq, joined Talabani in expressing “readiness to work together and do everything possible to eradicate terrorism.” He expressed his “support for the political process under way in Iraq...and the efforts being made by the Iraqi government to achieve national reconciliation and stability.”

The two leaders described Talabani's visit as “historic” and said it would “usher in a new phase in fraternal relations.” The Iraqi president hailed the “end of the political rupture between the two countries.” Mr Talabani, a former Kurdish rebel leader whose assumption of Iraq's presidency angered many Arabs, recalled that his country had been a founding member of the Arab League and pledged to “reactivate its Arab role.” The Iraqi president acknowledged the need for “concrete steps to rebuild the armed forces and dissolve militias” connected to Shia Arab parties that lead the Baghdad government.

“Standing up Iraq's own security forces will pave the way to setting a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops in accordance with UN security Council Resolution 1546.” Talabani said a review of the laws banning middle-ranking and senior officals of Iraq's former ruling Baath party from public life was “among the priorities of the Iraqi government and parliament.”The laws, which were adopted under the US-led occupation in June 2003 have been widely blamed for throwing large numbers of qualified government employees on to dole and into the arms of anti-US insurgents.—AFP