Syrian President Bashar Assad has told France 2 television that peace in the Mideast is unavoidable but cannot be achieved until American President George W. Bush leaves office next January. "We have no other choice than peace," Assad told the television station while attending the launching of the French-sponsored Mediterranean Union (MU). He charged that the Bush administration "has no vision for peace."
He also commented on kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, saying that the issue "is within the competence of Egypt," which is mediating talks between Hamas and Israel for his release.