The South American trade bloc Mercosur on Thursday opened talks with Syria and the Palestinian Authority on free trade agreements, an Argentine official, Luis Kreckler, told reporters.

The bloc -- comprising Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay -- signed formal agreements on the negotiations with Syrian and Palestinian officials on the sidelines of a Mercosur meeting underway in the southern Brazilian town of Foz de Iguacu.

The accords follow the controversial recognition by Brazil and Argentina of a Palestinian state, in the teeth of opposition by Israel and the United States. Uruguay has said it will follow its neighbors' lead next year.

Source: YahooNews