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GV Assad down steps of aircraft (3 shots)
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GV AND SV Assad and Hussein standing to attention (2 shots)
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GV AND MV Assad and Hussein inspecting guard of honour and crowds
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SV INTERIOR Assad greeted by VIPs
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SV Mayor of Amman speaking
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MV Assad being presented with golden key by mayor
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GV AND CU PAN Hussein and Assad seated (3 shots)
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Syrian President Hafez Al-Assad arrived in Amman on Tuesday (10 June) for the first Syrian state visit to Jordan since 1955. And that evening he called for a stepping up of unified Arab action to recover Israeli-occupied Arab territory and Palestinian rights.

President Assad, who was greeted by King Hussein at the airport, was expected to discuss strengthening the relations between their two countries with his host.

They were also expected to concentrate on the Middle East situation and to draw up a strategy to meet developments in the region.

Later, the two leaders said talk of peace would be meaningless unless Israel withdrew from occupied Arab territory and recognised Palestinian rights.

The visit, arranged during King Hussein's trip to Damascus in April, followed improved relations between Syria and Jordan. They had been bitter towards each other because of the fighting in 1970 and 1971 between the Jordanian Army and the Palestinian commandos.

President Assad was accompanied by a large delegation including Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Ayoubi, Foreign Minister Abdel-Halim Khaddam and Defence Minister Major-General Mustafa Tlas.