U.S. House speaker stresses role of Syria

    BEIRUT, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Visiting U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday stressed the role of Syria in search for solutions to key Middle East issues.

    She made the point after talks with Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri before heading a U.S. delegation late in the day to Lebanon's northern neighbor Syria, which ended its three decades of military dominance over Lebanon in 2005.

    The White House on Monday reiterated its objection to the trip, fearing the visit would send a "wrong message ... that Assad then exploits."  Full story

White House reiterates objection to House Speaker's Syria tour

    WASHINGTON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The White House reiterated on Monday its objection to a plan by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to visit Syria, saying the scheduled visit is sending a "wrong message."

    "It sends the wrong message to have high-level U.S. officials going there to have photo opportunities that Assad then exploits," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino told reporters.

    "We discourage such trips by high-ranking U.S. officials," she said, noting Pelosi's visit will be used by Syria "as leverage."  Full story

U.S. lawmakers express belief in dialogue opportunity with Syria

    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.  Full story

U.S. urges Syria to help quell violence in Iraq

    WASHINGTON, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The United States said Tuesday Syria should not let suicide bombers cross into Iraq and urged Syria to help quell violence in the violence-stricken country.

    "It has to stop, it is not in Syria's long term interests to let this violence (in Iraq) continue," David Satterfield, adviser of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Iraq, said in a speech.

    "We would hope that the Syrian government understands as well that its rhetoric for a peaceful and stable Iraq has to be matched by actions," said Satterfield.  Full story