Quartet meets in Cairo on Syria

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CAIRO, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Foreign ministry delegates from Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran convened in Cairo Monday to search out a way to end the Syrian crisis, an official said.

Egyptian Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Nazeeh Najjari told KUNA the meeting took place in the

Diplomatic Club.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi proposed the quartet meeting in an effort to find a way to end the nearly 18 months of bloodshed that has wracked Syria as rebels seek to oust President Bashar Assad, who has resorted to a full-court military press against them, resulting in the deaths of thousands of his own people.

Najjari said Egypt's focus was on seeing the four countries represented at the Cairo meeting reach a consensus that includes a ceasefire and end to the violence, while preserving the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria without foreign military intervention.

He said delegates would call for the start of a political process involving all Syrians to reach a multi-party democratic system.

Prior to the quartet meeting, Iran's Press TV reported Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tehran would offer proposals, including the addition other countries to the group.