Syria, US and France hold 'frank' talks, urge success of Syria's transition

DUBAI (Reuters) -Syria's foreign minister held frank and productive talks with the United States and France at which they said on Friday they underlined the importance of ensuring the success of Syria's political transition, unity and territorial integrity.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shibani, French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot and U.S. Special Envoy for Syria Thomas Barrack met in Paris, days after a ceasefire halted bloodshed in Syria's southern province of Sweida.

Hundreds of people were reported killed in the clashes between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes and government forces, and Israel carried out airstrikes to prevent what it said was mass killing of Druze.

In a joint statement, the Syrian, U.S. and French officials said they had held "a very frank and productive meeting at a critical moment for Syria."

Underlining the importance of engaging quickly to ensure the success Syria's political transition following the fall of President Bashar al-Assad, they said they had agreed on the need to ensure Syria's neighbours do not pose a threat and that Syria does not pose a threat to its neighbours.

They also agreed to support efforts to hold those responsible for violence accountable, the statement said.

Last week's clashes underlined the challenges interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces in stabilising Syria and maintaining centralised rule, despite warming ties with the U.S. and his administration's evolving security contacts with Israel.

(Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Alison Williams and Timothy Heritage)