UPDATE 2 – Syria's interim president meets Saudi crown prince on 1st foreign visit

Visit is 1st by Ahmed al-Sharaa since he was declared interim president on Jan. 29

UPDATES WITH DETAILS; CHANGES HEADLINE, DECK; EDITS THROUGH

By Ikrame Kouachi and Rania Abu Shamalazz

ANKARA (AA) — Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday during his first overseas trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry reported the meeting between the two leaders, without giving any details about its content.

Sharaa arrived in Riyadh early Sunday on the landmark visit to the oil-rich kingdom for talks with Saudi officials on bilateral relations and regional issues.

It comes amid ongoing efforts to rebuild Syria’s international ties following years of political isolation under the Bashar al-Assad regime.

Sharaa, who led anti-regime forces to oust Assad in December, was declared president for a transitional period on Wednesday.

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Kaynak: