Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Arab and Muslim countries on Sunday to unite in the face of U.S. threats and "foreign conspiracies" as Washington prepares for a possible attack on Iraq. Iran's official IRNA news agency said Assad had reiterated Syria's opposition to any U.S. military strike on Iraq and called for "deeper unity and solidarity among Arab and Muslim countries in the face of American threats against the region."

Assad was speaking after a meeting in Damascus with Mohammad Sader, a senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official.

Later Syrian Foreign Minister Farouq al-Shara hosted talks with his Iraqi counterpart Naji Sabri, who stopped over in Damascus en route to Moscow as part of Iraq's drive to drum up opposition to a possible U.S. attack on Iraq.

Syria's official SANA news agency said Sader, the Iranian official, had given Assad a letter from Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and discussed with him Washington's "campaign of threats and blackmail against Arab and Muslim countries."

IRNA said Assad had called on the region to "challenge the conspiracies woven in foreign circles against the countries of the region."

Syria and Iran, both erstwhile enemies of Baghdad, oppose any strike on Iraq, which they fear could spread to target them.

Syria has recently begun rebuilding economic ties with Baghdad and also fears losing its oil trade with Iraq. Diplomats say the trade is in breach of U.N. sanctions on Iraq, but both Syria and Iraq say it falls within a U.N. oil-for-food program.

President Bush accuses Syria, Iran and Iraq of sponsoring terrorism and has branded Baghdad and Tehran part of an axis of evil bent on acquiring weapons of mass destruction.

He has made clear his determination to oust Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, but Baghdad has dismissed any suggestion of an alliance between Iraq, Iran and Syria to face U.S. threats.

Russia, Sabri's next destination, has close economic ties with Iraq and also opposes military action against it.

Sabri recently returned from China and is due to head to Cairo after Moscow.

Syrian Foreign Ministry sources said he would leave Damascus early on Monday but could return next week.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan stands beside a portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus August 29, 2002 during the signing of a trade agreement between the two countries. Ramadan called on Arab governments on Thursday to stand with Baghdad against any U.S. plans to attack Iraq. REUTERS/Khaled al-Hariri
- Aug 29 8:26 AM ET