By Bridget Kendall BBC diplomatic correspondent

The Syrian president received a red carpet welcome when he touched down in the UK.

President Bashar al-Assad may be the leader of a Middle East dictatorship, but he and his wife also have strong links to Britain.

He trained as an eye doctor; she was born in the UK, and once worked in the City - all of which Britain hopes will help improve relations.

But this visit is a gamble.

Saddam influence

When Tony Blair went to Damascus a year ago, an uncomfortable row over Middle East terrorism completely overshadowed their joint news conference.

But then last month, Syria unexpectedly supported the UN Security Council's tough new resolution on Iraq.

President Assad's wife Asma was born in London

It is suggested Syria might agree to be won over.

There are very definitely pros and cons to this trip.

Syria is right next door to Iraq, so the hope is President Assad can influence Saddam Hussein, and stop him smuggling oil, for instance.

And if it comes to war - in the last Gulf War Syrian soldiers fought alongside British and American troops, so the aim is to get them onside this time.

But it is a risky business.

Syria is also next door to Israel, and hosts Palestinian groups that support suicide bombers.

At home, President Assad inherited an abysmal human rights record from his father, the late President Assad senior.

Syria is still on America's terrorist list, and still has its own, very different, agenda.

Syria's foreign media director Dr Bouthaina Shaaban has come out against an attack on Iraq.

Spectre of last visit

"We believe that any military strike on Iraq would only aggravate the problems in the Middle East," she told the BBC.

Only last week, President Assad defended suicide bombers

"It would make the Middle East poorer, less stable, more problematic, and therefore we believe that the focus now is in the wrong direction.

"The focus should be really on finding a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, rather than thinking about a military strike on Iraq."

The spectre of last year's disastrous encounter hangs over this visit.

There is no guarantee Tony Blair will not get hectored again.

Only last week, President Assad defended suicide bombers.

He may be a young Arab leader, but so far he has not broken out of the old mould.