Syria to help Lebanon with gas, electricity

DAMASCUS (AFP) - Syria has agreed to help crisis-hit Lebanon by letting gas and electricity transit through its territory, an official said Saturday during the first high-level visit from Beirut to Damascus since Syria's civil war erupted.

Harsh fuel shortages and power cuts inflicted by Lebanon's economic collapse have paralyzed businesses such as restaurants, shops and industry as well as vital services like hospitals.

Now Beirut hopes to strike a deal to import gas from Egypt and electricity from Jordan using Syrian infrastructure -- with Washington's blessing despite US sanctions against the Damascus regime.

Syria is ready to help Lebanon with transit for Egyptian gas and Jordanian electricity via Syrian territory, senior official Nasri Khouri told reporters, after the delegation led by interim deputy prime minister Zeina Akar met Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Meqdad and Oil Minister Bassam Tomeh.

The parties agreed to set up a joint team to track technical details of the plan, added Khouri, who is secretary-general of the Lebanese-Syrian Higher Council.