DAMASCUS: President Bashar Assad called for dialogue between Syrians during a meeting Saturday with international peace envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, state television reported.

"The real problem in Syria is that of combining politics with the work being done on the ground," said Assad. "The political work continues, in particular by calling for dialogue between Syrians based on the aspirations of all Syrians.

"The success of political action is dependent on putting pressure on the countries that finance and train the terrorists, and which bring weapons into Syria, until they stop doing so."

Assad said his government would "cooperate with all sincere efforts to solve the crisis, so long as the efforts are neutral and independent."

Also present at his meeting with Brahimi were Foreign Minister Walid Muallem and presidential adviser Buthaina Shaaban.