"Miracles" in the Vatican!..

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israeli President Moshe Katsav and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have shaken hands at the funeral of Pope John Paul, Israel Radio says.

It was believed to be the first time the presidents of Israel and Syria, two countries officially at war for decades, have shaken hands.

The radio said on Friday the Iranian-born Katsav also spoke at the Vatican funeral in his native Farsi with Iran's president, Mohammad Khatami, about their common city of birth. Iran officially seeks Israel's destruction.

Katsav and Assad, sitting one row apart, said "good morning" to one another and shook hands as the funeral got under way, the radio said. The Syrian leader then approached Katsav and shook his hand again after the ceremony was over, the report added.