Syrian leader visits Germany

BERLIN, Mar 30 (AFP): Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa met German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday as he began a visit to Berlin for talks on the Middle East war, rebuilding his country and the return of refugees.

Sharaa-on his first trip to Germany since ousting his country's longtime leader Bashar al-Assad in late 2024 -- was also later due to meet Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Europe's top economy is home to the largest Syrian diaspora in the European Union at more than a million, many of whom arrived during the peak of the migrant influx in 2015-2016.

Sharaa, 43, a former Islamist rebel leader, has managed to build relations with Western governments and made several overseas trips, including to the United States, France and Russia.

As a result, many international sanctions on Syria have been lifted to help the country rebuild after a bloody 14-year civil war.

He pointed to investment opportunities in Syria's energy, transport and tourism sectors, describing his homeland as very diverse and with "a great wealth of people".