Damascus: Declaring their common concern that Iraq's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be established at all cost, India and Syria on August 3 asserted that the United Nations must play an "enhanced role" in that war-ravaged country.

"Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq have to be assured," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said after his wide-ranging talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Prime Minister Mustafa Mero and Deputy Minister and Foreign Minister Farouk al Shara.

Concluding his three-day visit to this key Middle Eastern country, Sinha, who is accompanied by a high- level delegation, including Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry R M Abhyankar, said Damascus appreciated India's decision not to send troops to Iraq till there was an explicit UN Mandate.

"The UN should play an enhanced role in Iraq as there is no alternative to the world body," the leadership in Syria told Sinha agreeing with India's stand on the issue

PTI