| Syrian President Bashar Assad dealt a severe blow to Britain's bid to shore up the Middle East peace process and international coalition against terrorism during Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Damascus. "Assad ambushes Blair," read the front-page headline in the right-of-centre The Times. "Syria's Assad humiliates PM with attack on West and Israel," said the left-leaning Guardian, adding along with the right-wing Daily Telegraph that Blair had suffered a "public dressing down." The Independent simply called Blair's visit a âdiplomatic embarrassment.â (AFP/Jordan Times) |