Saudi Arabia calls Israeli Golan plan 'sabotage' of Syria

RIYADH/DOHA:

Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned as "sabotage" of Syria an Israeli plan to double the population of the occupied and annexed Golan Heights.

In a statement, Riyadh's foreign ministry expressed "condemnation and denunciation" of the plan, which it called part of "continued sabotage of opportunities to restore security and stability in Syria" after Islamist-led rebels overthrew president Bashar al-Assad one week ago.

Meanwhile, a Qatari delegation has arrived in Syria and met with officials in the country's transitional government following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad by Islamist-led rebels, the Gulf emirate said Sunday.

The diplomatic delegation "arrived in Damascus to complete the necessary procedures for the opening of the State of Qatar's embassy" foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told the official Qatar News Agency in a statement.

"During its meetings with the transitional government in Syria, the delegation reaffirmed the State of Qatar's full commitment to supporting the Syrian people... following the success of their revolution," the spokesman added.

Doha closed its diplomatic mission in Damascus and recalled its ambassador in July 2011, early in an uprising against the Assad government that turned into a civil war.

Unlike other Arab countries, Qatar never restored diplomatic ties with Syria under Assad, who was toppled by the 11-day rebel advance that swept through major cities and then the capital Damascus.

Ansari said the Qatari delegation had also "discussed with the Syrian side ways to facilitate the flow of Qatari humanitarian aid and assessed the needs of the Syrian brothers during this important phase"