U.S. Republican Senator Arlen Specter arrived in Syria on Monday for talks with Syrian leaders on bilateral relations and situations in Lebanon, Iraq and the Palestinian territories, according to the independent Syria-News website.

Specter, a veteran in the Senate for 26 years, was expected to hold meetings with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem.

Specter's trip follows those of three Democratic Senators Bill Nelson, John Kerry and Christopher Dodd who had visited Damascus recently.

The contacts, however, were criticized by the White House which has been reluctant to engage Syria directly because of its support for what it called terrorist groups including the Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

Washington also reacted coolly to a report of a top-level bipartisan panel led by former secretary of state James baker, which proposed direct talks with Damascus, insisting that the Arab state should first curb that support and reduce its influence in Lebanon.

Syria has been under unilateral U.S. economic sanctions since May 2004 for its alleged roles of supporting terrorism and interference in Lebanon.

The United States withdrew its ambassador to Syria in January 2005 over Damascus' alleged role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Damascus denies any role in the killing.

Source: Xinhua