Across the World: Syria

President Assad in Iran

Syrian President Bashar Assad has arrived in Teheran to congratulate his ally Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on his re-election as president.

Assad is likely to lobby for the release of Clotilde Reiss, a French academic on trial with more than 100 politicians, journalists and activists accused of involvement in a post-election protest to overthrow the Islamic leadership. Reiss was released last week on bail but judicial authorities have barred her from leaving the country.