Former Egyptian MP leads delegation to Damascus
A former Egyptian MP has led a delegation to meet Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, but it was not clear on whose behalf.
2 min read
Gamal Zahran echoed Assad's comments on the Russia withdrawal [Getty]
Former Egyptian MP Gamal Zahran met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a surprise visit Damascus last week.
Sources close to Zahran said that the financing of the delegation had been achieved through financial donations and grants from peers and leaders obtained by the leader in the delegation, and that the visit was brokered by Hizballah.
"Assad asked them to mediate with Egyptian media visiting Damascus to support his regime," said Zahran in a statement.
Zahran added that Assad told the delegation that the reports of Russian withdrawal of troops from Syria are not accurate.
"Russian airbases in Syria remain as they were. What happened is the reduction of some forces after completing its primary mission in the fight against terrorism," he said.
He echoed Assad's comments that Syria received promises from Russian President Vladimir Putin that it would quickly intervene in the case of any developments on the ground.
Zahran added that Assad praised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s "dealing" with the Muslim Brotherhood after June 30 2013.
The delegation included a number of Egyptian figures led by activist Mohammed Attia, general coordinator of the campaign "No to religious parties", which called for the disbanding of all Egyptian parties which were described as religious in nature.
Zahran is currently a member of the Supreme Council of Culture, a post he was appointed to following the July 3 coup, of which he was one of the supporting faces.
Sources close to Zahran said that the financing of the delegation had been achieved through financial donations and grants from peers and leaders obtained by the leader in the delegation, and that the visit was brokered by Hizballah.
"Assad asked them to mediate with Egyptian media visiting Damascus to support his regime," said Zahran in a statement.
Zahran added that Assad told the delegation that the reports of Russian withdrawal of troops from Syria are not accurate.
"Russian airbases in Syria remain as they were. What happened is the reduction of some forces after completing its primary mission in the fight against terrorism," he said.
He echoed Assad's comments that Syria received promises from Russian President Vladimir Putin that it would quickly intervene in the case of any developments on the ground.
Zahran added that Assad praised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s "dealing" with the Muslim Brotherhood after June 30 2013.
The delegation included a number of Egyptian figures led by activist Mohammed Attia, general coordinator of the campaign "No to religious parties", which called for the disbanding of all Egyptian parties which were described as religious in nature.
Zahran is currently a member of the Supreme Council of Culture, a post he was appointed to following the July 3 coup, of which he was one of the supporting faces.
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
More In News
![Israeli forces ordered bombed Gaza's Jabalia, ordering residents to leave [Getty]](/sites/default/files/styles/image_156x88/public/2176418030.jpeg?h=a5f2f23a&itok=srmqckaL)
