Jesse Jackson in Syria on "humanitarian mission"

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Sunday August 27, 2006

Damascus- Syrian President Bashar Assad received Sunday veteran civil-rights campaigner Reverend Jesse Jackson of the United States who arrived in Damascus on a humanitarian mission to help put an end to several hostage situations in the Middle East. Jackson, head of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, is leading a 10-man oecumenical delegation representing Jewish, Muslim, Roman Catholic and Protestant groups on a Middle East tour that would also include Lebanon and Israel.

Following his meeting with Assad, Jackson met Christian and Muslim clergymen in Damascus, and held talks with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem.

Jackson said that he was on a "humanitarian mission" to hear the views of Syrian, Lebanese and Israeli officials concerning what is happening in the Middle East and to discuss the issue of releasing prisoners between Syria, Lebanon and Israel.

"We are in a humanitarian mission; we don't represent the US administration, and we are here to meet officials in Syria, Lebanon and Israel to urge for the ceasefire to hold and guarantee humanitarian aid," Jackson said.

"We had been working with the Middle Eastern Council of Churches, but couldn't get in earlier because of the bombings," Jackson said. He said his group is concerned about the fate of Israeli soldiers held hostage by Hezbollah.

Jackson has had success several times in the past in negotiating the release of political hostages.

"I believe all nations must see the value of releasing prisoners as a means of releasing tensions in the area," Jackson said.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur