Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will pay a working visit to neighboring Syria on Tuesday for talks on issues related to Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

Gul is scheduled to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on the Lebanon issue and the problem between Israel and the Palestinians, the statement said.

On Sunday, Gul paid visits to Israel and the Palestinian territories in a bid to seek a settlement to the Palestinian issue.

During his meeting with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah after wrapping up meetings in Israel, Gul said, "Steps must be taken in the region to facilitate a permanent peace."

"Kidnapped Israeli soldiers must be released. All Palestinians, including freely elected ones, must be released from Israeli prisons," the foreign minister said.

"Such acts could establish a new climate of peace in the region," he said.

After a 34-day-long Israel-Hezbollah conflict in southern Lebanon ended last Monday under a UN ceasefire resolution, Turkey has indicated it would contribute troops but wanted to study operational plans for the force and rule of engagement before making any decisions.

The resolution authorizes an increase of the existing UN force in Lebanon to 15,000 troops to help Lebanon take control of south Lebanon, while Israel withdraws in parallel.