DAMASCUS, Syria, July 17, SPA -- Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki is in Damascus for talks with Syria's President Bashar Assad on the «latest Mideast developments. » But the two are also expected to discuss a request by theFrench president that Assad help persuade Tehran tocooperate with the international community over its nuclear program, the Associated Press reported. French President Nicolas Sarkozy met Assad at a Euro-Medsummit last weekend in Paris. Assad promised to relay therequest from France to Tehran.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/574435