Iran to back political solution in Syria

DAMASCUS - The Iranian ambassador to Syria expressed on Thursday his country's readiness to support all efforts that aim to help solving the Syrian crisis politically.

Mohammad Rida Shaibani made the remarks after a brief meeting with the visiting UN-Arab League (AL) joint special representative to Syria Lakhdar Brahimi.

"We have conveyed our point of view about the developments in Syria and the meeting was good and fruitful and there was some identical points of view," he told reporters on his way out.

He also hoped that Brahimi would listen to all opinions and points of view, adding that Brahimi should also look into the factors that had rendered his predecessor's mission flat.

Brahimi arrived in Syria Thursday, where he is set to meet with top Syrian officials on the future of his mediation. Upon arrival, Brahimi said the Syrian crisis is "big" and "exacerbating."

"I think no one would disagree on the necessity to stop the wounds and restore harmony among the sons of the one country and I hope we could do that," he said.

During his three-day visit, Brahimi will meet with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem Thursday afternoon and President Bashar al-Assad on Friday.

Brahimi is tasked with brokering a diplomatic solution to the conflict after replacing former UN chief Kofi Annan, who stepped down as the UN-AL joint special envoy in August after his six- point peace plan went up in smoke.