DAMASCUS, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Three visiting U.S. lawmakers said on Sunday they believed that there was an opportunity for dialogue with Syria on regional issues.

    In a statement issued by the U.S. embassy in Damascus, Frank Wolf, Joe Pitts, and Robert Aderholt, who are all Republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives, said "we came because we believe there is an opportunity for dialogue."

    "We are following in the lead of Ronald Reagan, who reached out to the Soviets during the Cold War," said the statement.

    The U.S. legislators held separate meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem earlier in the day on the latest situation in the region, particularly in Iraq.

    The politicians said they told Assad to prevent anti-U.S. militants from infiltrating into Iraq.

    "We raised the issue of stopping foreign fighters who are killing American soldiers and innocent Iraqis from entering Iraq through Syria."

    The two sides also talked about "ending support for (Lebanese) Hezbollah and (Palestinian) Hamas, recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace and security, and ceasing interfering in Lebanon."

    The U.S. legislators' visit came before a trip to Syria by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who is expected to arrive in Damascus on Tuesday.

    The U.S. bipartisan Iraq Study Group has urged the Bush administration to engage in talks with Syria and Iran over Iraq. However, the Bush administration has largely ignored the suggestion.

    Washington has been accusing Syria of supporting terrorism and doing insufficient to stop militants and weapons from infiltrating into neighboring Iraq and destabilize situation there.