Syria and Lebanon are increasing pressure on Israel by calling for a Mideast peace plan that includes the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

Syrian President Bashir al-Assad was in Beirut Sunday for talks with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.

They issued a joint statement saying any Middle East peace plan should be based on U.N. resolutions calling for an Israeli pullout from Arab land captured in the 1967 war.

But they also demanded the right of return for Palestinian refugees driven from their homes when Israel was founded in 1948.

Israel has flatly rejected this in the past, fearing a boom in its Arab population would lead to even more violence inside its borders.

The Syrian and Lebanese plan sharply differs from last month's widely circulated proposal by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah. His plan promises Arab diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties with Israel in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal to pre-1967 borders.

While Israel says redrawing its borders unacceptable as a starting point for talks, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon says he wants to see more details of the Saudi plan.

Egypt has welcomed the Saudi plan. Sources in Cairo says President Hosni Mubarak plans to urge President Bush to strongly consider it if and when Middle East peace talks resume. Mr. Mubarak meets with President Bush Tuesday in Washington.

The U.S. State Department has welcomed the Saudi initiative but cautioned it is not a solution to Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Some information for this report provided by AP.

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