US House Speaker dismisses White House criticism

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi toured Damascus today, the highest-ranking American politician to visit Syria since relations began to deteriorate four years ago.

US President George Bush criticised the trip, saying it sends mixed signals to President Bashar Assad.

The United States accuses Syria of interfering in Iraq and Lebanon and sponsoring terrorists – charges Syria denies.

The Bush administration has resisted calls to open direct talks with Damascus on resolving the countries’ disputes.

Pelosi, a California Democrat, is scheduled to meet Assad and other Syrian officials tomorrow.

She made no comment on arrival and headed for the Old City of Damascus where she toured the 8th Century Omayyad Mosque.

Pelosi draped a scarf over her head as she entered the historic mosque and stopped at a tomb inside the mosque said to contain the head of St John the Baptist.

She made the sign of the cross in front of the tomb.

About 10% of Syria’s 18 million people are Christian.

In Washington, Bush said visits to Syria by US officials were “counterproductive.”