Syria and Lebanon agree diplomatic relations

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman agreed on Wednesday to establish diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, a Syrian official said.

The two countries announced last month that they intended to open diplomatic relations for the first time. Wednesday's agreement formally set those ties on the highest level.

"The two presidents...have instructed their foreign ministers to take the necessary steps in this regard, starting from today," Buthaina Shaaban, an adviser to President Assad said.