Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his visiting Yemeni counterpart Ali Abdullah Saleh called on Monday for lifting the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and opening all the crossings, the official SANA news agency reported.

"Both sides affirmed the need to support the Palestinian people and exert pressure to lift the injustice and siege imposed on them immediately and open all crossing points," said the report.

Israel has imposed a tight blockade on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip since 2007.

During their talks here, the two heads of state also stressed the need to combine efforts on the Palestinian arena to overcome difficulties and bolster Palestinian national unity in the interests of the Palestinian people and their just cause.

Viewpoints were "identical" regarding the need to achieve Arab solidarity and good preparations for the upcoming Arab Summit in Doha in March with the aim of boosting Arab joint action, it added.

Both sides stressed the importance of consultation between the two countries, pledging to improve bilateral ties in all fields, particularly in economy, the report said.