Elias Mourad, editor of the Syrian ruling party newspaper Al-Baath, has said that Damascus could open an embassy in Beirut following the announcement of the new cabinet.

"Syria could open an embassy in Beirut after the formation of a Lebanese government of national unity," Mourad told AFP on Sunday.

His remarks came after the U.S. and French presidents jointly urged Syria to break ties with regional ally Iran, end its support for anti-Israeli militants, and set up formal diplomatic ties with Lebanon for the first time.