Richard Murphy, the US State Department's top Middle East expert, and Syrian Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam met on Sunday for talks on the conflict-torn region, Damascus Radio reported.
The state-run radio did not provide any further details about the talks between the Assistant Secretary of State for Middle Eastern Affairs and the Syrian vice President.
Damascus Radio instead highlighted detailed reports on the Palestinian uprising in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. State radio reported that schools in Syria were suspended on Sunday, a normal school day, after the ruling Baath Party sent socialist ideologues to lecture students about the "revolution" in the occupied territories.
Murphy headed to Syria late Friday from Europe on a tour of the Middle East that includes Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Israel.
Syrian state-run media did not mention Murphy's visit until midday on Saturday, during his five-hour meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa.
Murphy, who carried a message from President Reagan to Syrian President Hafez al-Assad, was reportedly sent as part of a new campaign by Washington to revive the Middle East peace process since the unrest in the occupied territories.
Since Murphy's arrival, Syria's state-controlled media has escalated its anti-Americanism. Tone.
Tishreen newspaper said in its editorial on Sunday that the American envoy does not bring with him any new ideas. The editorial said, "Murphy's tour aims to save America's face after the Palestinian revolution in the West Bank."
Syria rejected the US-sponsored 1978 Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt and said the long-standing conflict in the Middle East could only be resolved at an international peace conference attended by the Soviet Union.
US officials have been cautious in confirming reports that Washington is promoting a plan aimed at transferring power to the Palestinians in the occupied territories and withdrawing Israeli forces from densely populated Arab areas.
The plan reportedly calls for a new form of self-government to distinguish it from the self-government plan contained in the Camp David Treaty.
