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Damascus hosts Lebanese 'enemy' Damascus hosts Lebanese 'enemy'
(about 6 hours later)
A Lebanese Christian leader who fought a "war of liberation" against Syrian troops in Lebanon has met Syria's President Bashar Assad in Damascus. A Lebanese Christian leader who fought against Syrian troops in Lebanon two decades ago has held talks with Syria's President Bashar Assad in Damascus.
Michel Aoun is also expected to meet senior Syrian officials and Christian leaders during his five-day visit. Michel Aoun said he had had frank discussions with Mr Assad.
As acting prime minister and military commander in 1989, General Aoun fought against Syrian troops in Lebanon. He added that Lebanon and Syria were now putting the past behind them and opening a new page of better relations.
A year later, Syrian troops drove his troops out of their positions, forcing him into 15 years of exile in France. Mr Aoun is the latest senior Lebanese politician to visit Syria since the two countries established diplomatic relations in October.
When Lebanon's warring factions finally agreed to a peace deal, ending years of civil war, Gen Aoun refused to sign it because the agreement failed to set a date for the withdrawal of Syrian troops.
However, since returning to Lebanon in 2005, he has joined a Syrian-backed opposition alliance led by Hezbollah.
Diplomatic ties
Gen Aoun's visit to Syria has been criticised by anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians, but he has said his animosity toward Syria ended when Syrian troops left Lebanon in 2005.
He said Damascus knew him as a worthy opponent, and that he now hoped his visit would help improve relations between Lebanon and Syria.
The BBC's Natalia Antelava says this historic visit illustrates the changing relationship between Syria and Lebanon.The BBC's Natalia Antelava says this historic visit illustrates the changing relationship between Syria and Lebanon.
It is one that most people in Lebanon could not have imagined even a short while ago, she adds.It is one that most people in Lebanon could not have imagined even a short while ago, she adds.
Mr Aoun is the latest of several senior Lebanese politicians to visit Syria since the two countries established diplomatic relations in October. In 1989, Mr Aoun led Lebanese forces in a "war of liberation" against Syrian troops.
A year later, Syrian troops drove his troops out of their positions, forcing him into 15 years of exile in France.
Mr Aoun returned to Lebanon in May 2005, a month after the end of Syria's 29-year military deployment in the country, and subsequently joined a Syrian-backed opposition alliance led by Hezbollah.
'Bright future'
"We are turning a new page where there is no victor and no loser. This is a return to normal relations," Mr Aoun told a news conference on the first day of his five-day visit to the Syrian capital. "Our discussions hold the promise of a bright future."
Gen Aoun's visit to Syria has been criticised by anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians, but he has said his animosity toward Syria ended when Syrian troops left Lebanon in 2005.
"This is an old story that is now over. We must have better relations with Syria," he said.
"We spoke with our hearts and minds... so there remains no trace of a past in which there are many painful things."
Buthaina Shaaban, an adviser to President Assad, said Mr Aoun's visit opened "a new era in relations between Syria and Lebanon".