US House Speaker Pelosi Meets Syrian President

The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, says Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has assured her he is willing to hold peace talks with Israel. Pelosi met Wednesday in Damascus with Mr. Assad -- despite President Bush's criticism of the visit. Pelosi says she delivered a message from Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to Mr. Assad that Israel was ready for talks.

Tuesday, President Bush said meetings with President Assad lead Syria to believe it is part of the mainstream. Mr. Bush said Syria is sponsoring terrorism by allowing foreign fighters into Iraq.

But Pelosi has said it is important to hold a dialogue with Syria. Pelosi -- a Democrat from California -- is the highest-ranking U.S. official to visit Syria in years.

美国众议院议长南希.佩洛西说，叙利亚总统阿萨德向她承诺愿意和以色列举行和平会谈。尽管布什总统批评佩罗西这次访问，但是佩洛西星期三还是在大马士革会晤了阿萨德。佩洛西说，她向阿萨德总统转达了以色列总理奥尔默特愿意谈判的信息。

布什总统星期二表示，同阿萨德的会晤使叙利亚认为自己是主流社会的组成部分。布什说，叙利亚允许外籍武装人员进入伊拉克是在支持恐怖主义。

不过佩洛西表示，重要的是和叙利亚进行对话。来自加州的民主党议员佩洛西是近年来到访叙利亚的最高级别美国官员。