Syria 'wants talks with Israel'

A senior American congressman, Tom Lantos, who is visiting the Middle East, says Syria is ready to reopen peace talks with Israel.

Mr Lantos said the Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, had asked him to carry a message to the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, about renewing negotiations stalled since 1999.

There has been no comment from Syria on the remarks by the congressman, who was in the Syrian capital, Damascus, last Saturday.

The two countries have been bitter enemies for decades.

Israeli public radio said Mr Sharon had told Mr Lantos Israel was prepared to enter discussions with Syria without preconditions.

In the past, Syria has insisted on Israel promising in advance to return the Golan Heights area, which it has occupied since 1967.

While in Damascus, Mr Lantos called on Syria to stop supporting the Lebanese guerrilla group Hezbollah, and expel extremist Palestinian groups.

The United States accuses the Syrians of harbouring Iraqi fugitives from Saddam Hussein's government and possessing chemical weapons.

Syria denies the accusations and says the Americans should focus on Israel as the only country in the Middle East with weapons of mass destruction.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service