Syria wants talks with US

The official Syrian Arab News Agency said President Bashar al-Assad's talks with a US Homeland Security Committee delegation led by California Republican Christopher Cox dealt with combating terrorism and the Arab-Israeli peace process.

It said the talks tackled "the necessity for establishing a clear, constructive and reasonable dialogue."

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Cox told a news conference after what he said was a very constructive meeting that he was encouraged "that there is a prospect for getting Syrian-US relations back on track."

But he added: "I can't say that I sensed that there was a diplomatic breakthrough today...I can report back from those discussions that the president fully appreciates -- which is a different word than agrees with -- the American position."

Washington accuses Syria of ignoring its requests to crack down on Palestinian and Lebanese guerrilla groups and has long included Syria on a list of states that sponsor terrorism.

The bill authorises Bush to bar trade in items that could be used in weapons programs until the administration certifies that Syria is not supporting terror groups, has withdrawn its military from Lebanon, is not developing unconventional weapons and has secured its border with Iraq.

"Assad expressed his view, which I share, that this legislation can be viewed as a glass half full rather than a glass half empty. Because if these points of disagreement can be worked on and resolved the legislation itself contains an expression of American policy that we want to have expanded relations with Syria," said Cox.

"He (Assad) also went out of his way to be as agreeable as he could with our basic assumptions about fighting terrorism and the importance of working together," he added.