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                Kerry Visits Oman Seeking Syria Peace Conference

   U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry meets Tuesday with the sultan of
   Oman, on his latest stop in a campaign to help arrange a Syrian peace
   conference.
   A senior State Department official said that while Oman has not played
   a key role in Syria, it is an "important player" in the region, and
   Kerry wants to hear Sultan Qaboos bin Said`s views.
   Oman is a U.S. ally, but also has close relations with nearby Iran.
   The issue of Iran`s involvement in the proposed Syrian peace conference
   has divided the United States and Russia, the two nations that first
   put forth the idea of holding the talks next month.
   Russia says Iran should take part. The United States has in the past
   objected to Iranian involvement, but says no delegations have yet been
   ruled in or out of the conference. France said last week it does not
   want Iran there.
   Neither the Syrian government nor the rebels trying to oust President
   Bashar al-Assad have said whether they will attend. The opposition
   plans to make its decision during a meeting Thursday in Turkey.
   Kerry`s visit Tuesday also will include talks about Oman`s planned $2.1
   billion purchase of an air defense system from U.S. defense firm
   Raytheon.
   On Wednesday, he will be in Jordan for a meeting of the Friends of
   Syria, where nations backing the opposition will discuss the proposed
   peace conference.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-visits-oman-seeking-syria-peace
   -conference/1665034.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/kerry-visits-oman-seeking-syria-peace-conference/1665034.html