French top diplomat 'would have preferred' if Syrian leader shook German counterpart's hand

Barrot and Baerbock on Friday became the most senior Western figures to visit the Syrian capital since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last month. But their meeting with al-Sharaa was overshadowed by the devoutly Muslim leader shaking Barrot's hand on arrival but pointedly not doing the same to Baerbock, a woman. "Would I have preferred Ahmed al-Sharaa to shake hands with my German colleague? The answer is yes. Was that the purpose of this trip? The answer is no," Barrot told RTL.