The Iranian president has arrived in Syria on a two-day visit to show solidarity between the two allies, both facing prospects of showdowns with the UN Security Council. Officials said Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on his first trip to Damascus since taking office in August, will hold talks with Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, and sign a number of bilateral economic cooperation agreements. Thursday’s trip comes at a time of intense pressure on Syria and Iran, caught in separate standoffs with the international community. Full Story