DAMASCUS, Syria, April 3 (UPI) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi arrived in Damascus Tuesday, the highest-ranking U.S. politician to visit Syria since 2003.
Pelosi, whose visit has been criticized by President Bush as undermining U.S. foreign policy, was greeted by Foreign Minister Walid Muallim and was expected to meet President Bashar al-Assad, the BBC reported.
Syrian media praised Pelosi, D-Calif., with welcoming editorials. The Syria Times called her a "brave lady."
Pelosi has described her trip as an opportunity to talk to Syria about fighting terrorism.
"We have no illusions, but we have great hope," she said Monday after meeting Lebanese majority leader Saad al-Hariri, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.
In Washington Monday, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Pelosi's trip "sends the wrong message" to Syria, which the U.S. lists as a state sponsor of terrorism. The United States severed diplomatic ties to Syria in 2005.
Bush told reporters in a White House Rose Garden Tuesday that going to Syria "sends mixed signals" to a country that sponsors terrorism.
"There have been a lot of people have gone to see President Assad ... some Americans, but a lot of European leaders, high-ranking officials ... and yet we haven't seen action. He has not responded," Bush said at a news conference.
