US:The White House yesterday renewed its criticism of House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Syria as Ms Pelosi declared that she brought a message of peace from Israel to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Proclaiming her determination that "the road to Damascus would be the path to peace", Ms Pelosi told Mr Assad that Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert said his country is ready to engage in peace talks.
At a press conference in Damascus later, the California Democrat said she was encouraged by Mr Assad's response.
"We were very pleased with the assurances we received from the president that he was ready to resume the peace process. He's ready to engage in negotiations for peace with Israel," she said.
President George Bush this week criticised Ms Pelosi's visit to Syria, complaining that it sent "mixed signals", and vice-president Dick Cheney yesterday described her meeting with Mr Assad as unfortunate.
"He's been isolated and cut off because of his bad behaviour. And the unfortunate thing about the Speaker's visit is it sort of breaks down that barrier . . . In other words, his bad behaviour is being rewarded, in a sense," Mr Cheney said.
Ms Pelosi's visit to Damascus follows a similar visit by Republican congressmen earlier this week. Some officials in the State Department believe the congressional outreach to Syria could help to achieve the US policy goal of prising Damascus away from its alliance with Tehran, while others believe a tougher approach is called for.
Ms Pelosi was accompanied by House foreign relations committee chairman Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor and a strong supporter of Israel, in a delegation that included six Republicans. The Israeli government said yesterday that Ms Pelosi's message to Mr Assad did not reflect a change in Israel's policy.
"The prime minister said Israel is interested in peace with Syria, but Syria would first have to abandon the path of terror and providing support for terrorist groups," an official told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
Lee Hamilton, a co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group, said he supports Ms Pelosi's trip because the US policy of not talking to Syria has not worked. "I do not think conversation is capitulation or talking is appeasement," Mr Hamilton said.
