Syria offers Israel negotiation proposal

DAMASCUS, Syria, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Syrian leaders have proposed further indirect talks with Israel that would include U.S. representatives.

Their six-point proposal was passed through intermediary Turkey after four rounds of thus far inconclusive negotiations, CNN reported Thursday. Details weren't known but a senior Syrian official described a Golan Heights land-buyback plan over a period of 99 years.

Syria's new approach came on the eve of a visit to Damascus by French President Nicolas Sarkozy for discussions with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Sarkozy said Wednesday that relations between the two countries are about to enter a new stage, reported Syria's official news agency, SANA. The French president described indirect talks between Syria and Israel as "excellent" and he said he hoped they would lead to direct negotiations.

But Assad has repeatedly called for United States involvement before direct talks start and has said there is no point trying to get underway before the November U.S. presidential election, reported CNN.