U.S., Syria talking about Iraqi refugees

DAMASCUS, Syria, March 13 (UPI) -- Some thawing between the United States and Syria is taking place as Damascus is seeking talks with Washington over the number of Iraqi refugees in Syria.

The two countries broke off relations in 2005 but on Monday, Ellen Sauerbrey, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for population, refugees and migration met in Damascus with Faisal Maqdad, Syria's deputy foreign minister, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.

She also met with Laurens Jolles from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. By that agency's estimates, some 2 million Iraqis have fled to neighboring countries, including Syria, which has about half of them, the report said.

"We told (Sauerbrey) that all questions are linked in the Arab region and that a comprehensive dialogue is needed," Maqdad said after the meeting.

Washington broke ties with Damascus over allegations Syria was interfering in security and politics in neighboring Lebanon and Iraq.