Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=5/15/2003

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=YEMEN / KHATAMI (S-O)

NUMBER=2-303250

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: For the first time since the 1979 Iranian revolution, an Iranian president is visiting Yemen. V-O-A's Greg LaMotte reports, Iran's president is on a tour of the region.

TEXT: Iranian President Mohammad Khatami is in Yemen to discuss, among other things, the U-S presence in Iraq.

Mr. Khatami traveled to Yemen's capital Sana Thursday, following talks in Damascus with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

In the Syrian capital, the two presidents discussed U-S pressure on Iran and Syria to end their support of militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

Hamas and Hezbollah are both on the State Department's list of terrorist organizations.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told reporters Thursday Mr. Khatami wants to discuss the potential impact of the U-S presence in the region, particularly after U-S troops seized control of Iraq.

Mr. Saleh said the region is going through what he called an abnormal stage.

Yemen and Iran are expected to sign agreements on economic, security and cultural exchanges during Mr. Khatami's two-day visit. (Signed)

NEB/GL/AWP/TW