Syrian-Saudi war of words bodes ill for troubled region

A new war of words has erupted between Syria and Saudi Arabia, signaling a further low in relations between the Mideast's two key regional players — one of them aligned with Washington and the other with Tehran.

The latest tensions between the two Arab heavyweights could have major repercussions for other Arab countries such as Iraq and Lebanon, where each has major interests.

The opening salvo came last week from Syrian Vice President Farouk al-Sharaa, who launched an attack on the Saudi role in the Middle East, describing it as "semi paralyzed."

During a lecture at the Arab Cultural Center in Damascus, al-Sharaa pointed to the collapse of a Palestinian unity deal forged last February in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The agreement collapsed in the fighting between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. HT