The United States has returned five Syrian border guards wounded and taken by American forces during a June 18 clash on the Syrian-Iraqi border, a Syrian government spokesman said Monday.
The announcement, carried by Syria's official news agency SANA, said the guards were handed over to Syria on the Syrian-Iraqi border and taken to hospital for further treatment.
Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa had said Sunday that Syria wanted to avoid escalating tensions with Washington and was instead engaged in quiet diplomacy over the return of the border guards.
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
