American fast-food chain Kentucky fried Chicken has opened its first branch in Syria, despite US economic sanctions preventing it.

It comes just months after Coca Cola and Pepsi took advantage of Syria's economic liberalisation. Previously American goods had to be smuggled in from Lebanon.

The Damascus KFC is owned by a Kuwati - Nasser Khourafi - who is also building a Sheraton hotel in Aleppo. Kuwait and Syria have been strengthening their economic ties in recent months.