Syria has offered to send troops to patrol the Lebanon-Syria border, after talks with Germany, Greece, Spain and Italy.

Germany's Foreign Minister, fast proving to be Syria's closest ally in Europe, says Syria needs to be given a bigger role, and peace talks on Israel should be re-opened. (Germany is a close ally of Israel).

Last week, Italy said Syria had signalled its willingness to have EU troops on the Lebanese side of the border. Syria says it is willing to let the EU train its border police.

Syria had previously rejected allowing UN troops on its borders. But it is much closer to the EU which runs many development and cultural projects inside Syria.