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US 'to send ambassador to Syria' US to send ambassador to Damascus
(30 minutes later)
Washington has confirmed it is to send an ambassador to Damascus, ending a four-year diplomatic absence in Syria.Washington has confirmed it is to send an ambassador to Damascus, ending a four-year diplomatic absence in Syria.
The apparent move is being seen as part of President Barack Obama's attempts to increase engagement with the region.The apparent move is being seen as part of President Barack Obama's attempts to increase engagement with the region.
US officials said that Syria's ambassador in Washington had been informed of the move.
The US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, recently visited Syria and said Damascus had an "integral role" in finding peace in the region.The US Middle East envoy, George Mitchell, recently visited Syria and said Damascus had an "integral role" in finding peace in the region.
The US envoy in Syria was withdrawn in 2005, following after the assassination of Lebanon's former PM Rafiq Hariri.
There is widespread suspicion inside and outside Lebanon that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's death, but Damascus strongly denies this.
High-level talks
A US official told the BBC that ''a decision in principle had been taken'' to send a US ambassador to Damascus, but added that the process would take time.A US official told the BBC that ''a decision in principle had been taken'' to send a US ambassador to Damascus, but added that the process would take time.
Any ambassador would have to be confirmed by the Senate, and no names have been discussed yet, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says.Any ambassador would have to be confirmed by the Senate, and no names have been discussed yet, the BBC's Kim Ghattas in Washington says.
Mitchell: "Syria has an integral role to play"Mitchell: "Syria has an integral role to play"
A senior State Department official quoted by the New York Times said the move to install a new ambassador was "a reflection of Syria being a pivotal country in terms of achieving a comprehensive peace in the region". Washington said it had already informed Syria of its move.
"There is a lot of work to do in the region for which Syria can play a role. For that, it helps to have a fully staffed embassy," said the official. State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said the decision reflected Syria's important role in the region, adding that Washington hoped it would be a constructive one.
Another senior US official, quoted by the Associated Press news agency, said Mr Obama "believes that diplomatic engagement helps serve our interests, and that the current policy didn't make sense". Another state department official said the decision was in line with President Obama's decision to engage diplomatically to resolve a number of issues of concern to the US.
Mr Obama has said he wants to broker a peace deal with Syria and Israel to end decades of regional conflict. Peace with Israel, Syria's support for militant groups like Hezbollah and Hamas, as well the influx of foreign fighters from Syria into Iraq are all on the agenda, our correspondent says.
Earlier this month, Mr Mitchell held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus and said the country had "an integral role to play in reaching comprehensive peace". Four delegations of high-level US officials visited Damascus over the last few months, including a military delegation.
The last US ambassador in Damascus was withdrawn in 2005, following the assassination of Lebanon's former Prime Minster Rafiq Hariri. As the US starts its draw down of troops from Iraq, it is trying to ensure the situation there does not unravel, our correspondent adds.
There is widespread suspicion inside and outside Lebanon that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's death, but Damascus strongly denies this.