Assad urges: Let's break Gaza siege

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Saturday urged Arab states to break the Zionist regime's blockade of Gaza.

In an opening address to the 20th Arab League Summit in Damascus, Assad called for an immediate effort by the Arab and Islamic world to break the blockade on Gaza.

"We call for the immediate breaking of the blockade imposed on Gaza, first by the Arab countries and then by others," he said.

The impoverished Gaza Strip has been under a blockade since mid-January.

Assad also denied interfering in Lebanon's domestic affairs.

The Syrian leader said that Damascus was eager to see the stability, sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, denying accusations that his country is responsible for blocking the election of a new president there.

"I would like to make a point with regards to Syrian interference in Lebanon. It is the contrary which is true because pressure has been exerted on Syria for over a year to interfere in Lebanon's affairs but we have refused to do so," Assad said.

"Our answer was clear to all those who asked us to work in that direction, and that is that the solution is in the hands of the Lebanese themselves," he added.

"They have their nation, their institutions, their constitution."