Syria's President Bashar al-Assad cemented his return to the Arab fold Tuesday when leading Sunni power Saudi Arabia, which long supported Syria's opposition, said its diplomats would resume work in the country.

The restoration of diplomatic ties, later confirmed by Damascus, came more than a decade after Riyadh withdrew its representatives during Syria's civil war, and two days after the Arab League bloc ended Syria's years-long suspension.

The kingdom "has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Syria," Riyadh's foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, saying it would seek to "develop joint Arab action".

Syria's SANA news agency also said "the Syrian Arab Republic has decided to resume the work of its diplomatic mission in Saudi Arabia," quoting a foreign ministry source.

Saudi Arabia will host the pan-Arab bloc's next summit on May 19.

On Sunday the Arab League welcomed back Syria's government.

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