Assad sends proposals to Israel for direct peace talks

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday a list of proposals has been sent to Israel via Turkish mediators aimed at laying the groundwork for direct peace talks between the two foes.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned Tehran that its determination to press on with its controversial nuclear drive risked an Israeli strike that would be a “catastrophe.”

“We are awaiting Israel’s response to six points that we have submitted through Turkey,” Assad said at a four-way summit in Damascus with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani.

“Our response would be positive, paving the way for direct talks after a new US administration that believes in the peace process takes office,” he said.