Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a meeting with US Democrat Senator Ted Kaufman at al-Shaab palace

A handout picture from the official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) shows Syria's President Bashar al-Assad during a meeting with US Democrat Senator Ted Kaufman at al-Shaab palace in Damascus on May 28, 2009. SANA said Assad discussed with a delegation from the US congress bilateral relations and the need to work to "removing barriers" and to move forward in the service of promoting stability in the Middle East.

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