Peres proposes direct talks with Syria

Syria and Israel should hold direct talks in Jerusalem or Damascus, Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, proposed on Friday. Mr Peres, who holds a largely ceremonial role as president, extended an invitation to Syria's Bashar al-Assad with Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, beside him as they debated the prospects for peace at the annual Ambrosetti conference on the shores of Italy's Lake Como. Drawing... [read full story]