The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has held talks in Damascus with President Bashar al-Assad about the international campaign against terrorism and the possible revival of Middle East peace talks.

It is the first such visit to Syria by a British leader for well over 30 years, and marks the start of another diplomatic mission by Mr Blair.

He is taking a high-profile role in efforts to consolidate the support of Muslim and Arab countries for the American-led campaign.

The arrival of Mr Blair in Damascus is a startling development, designed to make the world sit up and take note of the western powers working with Muslim governments to crush terrorism.

Unlikely ally

To western opinion, Syria is an unlikely partner. It is classed as a state sponsor of terrorism by the United States.

Damascus is the headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which says it killed an Israeli cabinet minister two weeks ago in retaliation for the killing of its own leader.

Syria also supports or hosts three militant Islamic groups banned by the British government last February under anti-terrorist legislation.

They are the more extreme wings of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Palestinian territories, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad or Shaqaqi.

The Syrian Government, like the Arab world in general, insists there is a difference between terrorism and legitimate resistance to Israeli occupation.

Britain, like the United States, does not accept this distinction; terrorism is terrorism, they say, whatever the motive.

CIA visit

However, in the present crisis, the western powers have decided to be pragmatic and take at face value Syria's condemnation of the 11 September attacks on New York and Washington.

British officials stressed there was no evidence of Syrian complicity in the attacks.

The United States says Syria cannot be against Al-Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden's network, but in favour of other terrorist groups.

But President Bush has indicated that he takes seriously the Syrians' offer of help.

According to the New York Times, a senior CIA official went to Damascus earlier this month to meet his counterparts there, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

British officials refused to be specific about that kind of co-operation but said Mr Blair wanted to engage in a dialogue with Syria on how to combat terrorism.