U.S. House Speaker says Syria trip good idea

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Monday that her planned visit to Syria is an important and good idea, local Naharnet news website reported.

Pelosi said during her brief visit in Lebanon that it is a good idea for her to visit Syria after the White House criticized the trip, according to the report.

She made the remarks after talks with Lebanese parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri.

"The purpose of this trip is a part of our responsibility for the national security of the United States," Pelosi was quoted as saying.

The White House accuses Syria of harboring terror organizations and backing insurgents in Iraq and has denounced Pelosi's visit to Damascus for undermining U.S. policy.

In Syria "we will be talking about the overarching issue, the fight against terrorism and the role that Syria can play to help or to hinder that role," said Pelosi.

During her visit in Beirut, Pelosi also met Prime Minister Fouad Seniora as well as Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a leading figure in the opposition which is trying to topple the majority government.

Source: Xinhua