The Syrian representative was strongly critical of the text's "vague call on Israel to withdraw".

At first, Syrian representatives opposed the ruling of the chairman and requested that the number of returning civilians be limited.

Syrian, Lebanese, Jordanian and Palestinian representatives are scheduled to meet in Damascus next weekend to decide on their participation.

He insists that any committee formed to supervise a cease-fire must be composed of Syrian representatives and officers from his army command.

The meeting would then break up into "bilateral geographical committees," with, for example, Syrian representatives negotiating with the Israelis over the Golan Heights.

So Syria suggested that Syrian and Israeli representatives hold treaty talks in Washington to take advantage of the Syrian confidence-building step.

On 29 October, Mesić suggested that Israeli and Syrian representatives should have a meeting at Croatian island of Brijuni.

Rashid Niazi, the Syrian representative to the conference, passed by and gave Chalmers a cool nod.

An alternative statement, supported by 57 member nations, was read by the Syrian representative in the General Assembly.

A Syrian diplomatic representative issued a complaint about the village's destruction.