North Korea paper hails Syria leader,no reference to protest

Pyongyang, April 18: North Korea's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper hailed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's leadership on development of the country on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of its independence on Sunday.

The paper, however, did not touch on the continuing anti-government protests in Syria in the wake of mass uprisings that toppled Egyptian and Tunisian leaders earlier this year.

"Under the leadership of President al-Assad, the country is striving to achieve self-initiated development," the paper said in its Sunday edition.

On Saturday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il sent a congratulatory message to the Syrian president ahead of the independence day anniversary.

PTI (Kyodo)