British official meets with Syrian president

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - A senior adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair has met President Bashar al-Assad on an unannounced visit to Syria, marking a change in British policy towards Damascus, diplomats and Syrian officials said.

Blair's foreign policy chief Nigel Scheinwald, the highest level British official to visit Damascus in years, had separate talks with Assad and with Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Monday, they said.

"Scheinwald left Damascus this morning. There is no denying that his has been a significant visit, proving that a Syrian role is key to Middle East stability," one Syrian official said, declining to say what was discussed during Scheinwald's trip.

In London, a Blair spokesman confirmed the visit but sought to play down its significance. "The Prime Minister has always made it clear that Syria has a choice -- to play a constructive role in the international community or continue to support terrorism," he said.

The pan Arab daily newspaper al-Hayat, which first reported the visit, said Scheinwald most likely discussed the crisis in the Palestinian territories, rising violence in Iraq and how to stabilise the Middle East.

Leading political commentator Thabet Salem said the visit showed that Syria, which backs the militant Muslim groups Hamas and Hezbollah and opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, could not be overlooked in the region.

"Blair wants to bring an end to turmoil in the Middle East, especially after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon and damage to his reputation. This visit has shown that his policy is starting to differ from the United States," Salem said.

"The Syrians ... feel that they are on the right track, and they have a moral influence on Hamas and Hezbollah," he said.

Britain, along with France and other European countries, reduced contacts with Syria to a minimum after last year's assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A U.N. investigation said the assassination could not have been carried out without knowledge of Syrian security officials. Syria denies involvement.

The isolation of the Baathist government, however, has eased since Israel invaded southern Lebanon in July in response to the capture of two Israeli soldiers by Hezbollah, which Syria backs.

Syria also hosts members of the Palestinian movement Hamas.

A delegation from the European Parliament said on a visit to Syria last month Damascus was a key regional player that should not be ignored.

Senior officials from Spain, Italy and Germany have been in contact with the Syrian side after boycotting Damascus for almost two years, although France has maintained its distance.

(Additional reporting by Sophie Walker in London))

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