Syria condemns 'barbaric crime' in Gaza

SYRIA: Syria on Saturday condemned the Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip as a "barbaric crime" and called for an emergency summit of the Arab League, the foreign ministry said in a statement.

"Syria is following with great anxiety the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza," the statement said, branding the attack which left at least 271 people dead "a horrific crime and terrorist act."

"Syria calls on the Arab nation and the international community to use all possible means to put pressure in Israel to immediately stop the aggression, allow the wounded to enter hospital and open all crossing points" to Gaza.

"Syria as president of the Arab League calls on Arab leaders to hold an emergency summit to assess the dangerous situation in Gaza," the ministry said.

Separately, President Bashar al-Assad received a phone call from his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Sana said. The two men discussed the "crime" committed by Israel and possible "means to act through the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to counter the agression launched against the unarmed Palestinian people."

Assad also telephoned the emir of Qatar and the presidents of Sudan, Yemen and Algeria, proposing an "urgent summit to examine the dangerous situation in the Gaza Strip." At least 270 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip on Saturday in massive Israeli air strikes on the Hamas-run enclave, said the head of Gaza emergency services Moawiya Hassanein.

Damascus, Sunday, AFP