Assad of Syria encourages terrorism...

Rather than shutting down terrorist offices in Damascus, Assid is encouraging them.

Syrian President Bashar Assad met Saturday with leaders of 10 militant Palestinian groups based in Syria, defying U.S. pressure to crack down on these groups.

In Saturday's meeting, Assad urged the radical Palestinian leaders - including Khaled Mashaal, the political leader of the militant Hamas group - to close ranks and continue the struggle in order to achieve their goal of an independent Palestinian state, Syria's official news agency SANA reported.

The Palestinian leaders expressed their "appreciation of Syrian support for the Palestinian cause and stressed their desire to restore their rights, especially the right of return," SANA said.