DAMASCUS, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- The de-facto head of Syria's new governing authority, Ahmed al-Sharaa, held separate talks with delegations from Bahrain and Libya on Saturday, signaling a continued push to solidify diplomatic ties and rebuild regional partnerships following the fall of the previous administration in early December.
According to Syrian official press releases, al-Sharaa welcomed Bahrain's Strategic Security Bureau chief, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, and later met with a Libyan delegation led by Walid Ammar al-Lafi, Libya's minister of state for communication and political affairs.
While no detailed statements were released, the discussions reportedly focused on enhancing cooperation in security and other areas.
"We discussed raising the level of relations and diplomatic representation," al-Lafi told reporters after meeting with al-Sharaa, according to Syria's radio station Sham FM.
"Syria is a crucial, central country, and it's our duty to maintain contact with its leadership. There are positive signs for closer collaboration, particularly on security matters," the Libyan official said.
Meanwhile, the new Syrian administration announced that an amnesty period for former military members to surrender their weapons has expired.
Those who failed to comply are now considered outlaws, local newspaper al-Watan reported. In a related operation, security forces in the coastal region of Sutmorkho apprehended a number of individuals tied to so-called "remnants of Assad militias," confiscating weapons and ammunition.
The interim Ministry of Interior said they would continue combing the area to maintain order. ■
