Ihsanoglu discusses Syria with Ban

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on Thursday held a telephone conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Israel's detaining Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammad Hussein and developments in Syria as well as regional and international issues were discussed on phone, according to a statement released by OIC. Israeli authorities had released Mufti of Jerusalem Mohammad Hussein on the same day he was detained. While chemical weapons use by the Assad regime continues to dominate the agenda, Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad announced Thursday that Syria was ready to welcome UN inspectors to conduct research in Syria. Over 700 civilians were killed during attacks of Assad regime which were staged in al-Beida village of Banias between May 2 and 5.