DAMASCUS, Feb 17: The Aga Khan on Tuesday concluded a three-day official visit to Syria, during which he had meetings with President Bashar al Assad on development priorities for the country.

In his meetings with President Assad, Prime Minister Naji al Otri, parliamentary speaker Mahmoud Abrash as well as ministers of culture, education and health, the Aga Khan reviewed the initiatives launched by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) since the signing of a "framework development agreement" in Nov 2001.

The programmes already launched include installation of computer laboratories in schools, medical equipment grants to hospitals, collaboration on nursing education and the "healthy villages scheme", says an AKDN press release.