DAMASCUS, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Syrian state-run press on Wednesday continued its applause over U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Damascus while keeping cautious on the "sudden U.S. openness" against the backdrop of a long-strained relation.

    The official Syrian radio hailed Pelosi's trip here as opening a door for necessary dialogue between the two countries to discuss regional issues.

    It also expressed the hope that the talks which begun with Pelosi would continue, asserting that it was the only way to clarify any misunderstanding and a good start for Washington to reassume its role as a sponsor for Mideast peace.

    Describing the visit as "important", the radio added that it allowed the U.S. official to better understand Syria's stances and concerns.

    Meanwhile, Syria's ruling party's organ the al-Baath newspaper also cheered Pelosi's talks here as "beneficial to everyone" despite the deep differences between the two sides towards the Palestinian issue and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

    Pelosi's trip also indicated a "real possibility" of launching a widespread dialogue with Washington, the paper added.

    However, the official press remained prudent as the government Tishrin daily noted that no matter how important the trip was, it would not be able to erase all the obstacles impeding the restoration of the Syrian-American ties, or remove the dark clouds overshadowing these ties and preventing mutual understanding and dialogue.

    But this did not mean that her visit would not achieve any positive outcome since "we believe that the dialogue Damascus is having will bear fruits," the paper added.

    Meanwhile, Syrian ambassador to Washington Imad Moustapha said in an interview with the al-Baath paper that Syria was "wary of the sudden U.S. openness" and would respond cautiously.

    Syria would not hurriedly offer concessions when it refused to offer them under much greater pressure from the U.S. in the past, he observed, adding that Syria would take a step forward every time the Americans took one.

    Pelosi, the most senior U.S. politician to come to the Syrian capital in years, held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, his deputy Farouk al-Shara and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Wednesday.

    Her trip was criticized as undermining the U.S. efforts to isolate the Arab state by the White House that has been accusing Damascus of supporting terror organizations and doing little to stop militants and weapons from infiltrating into Iraq.

    Defining her talks here as "productive", Pelosi told reporters that she received assurances from Assad that he was ready to engage in peace talks with Israel and that she had conveyed the Israeli message for peace negotiations with Syria as well.

    She said the delegation raised their concerns about militants infiltrating from Syria into Iraq and the Israeli soldiers kidnapped by the Lebanese Shiite Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian militant groups, in addition to Syria's connection with Hezbollah and the Islamic Resistance Movement(Hamas).

    Relations between Washington and Damascus have been strained since 2003 as Syria strongly objected the U.S. invasion of Iraq and blamed the U.S.-led occupation for the turbulences in the country ever after.

    The ties further deteriorated following the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February 2005, after which Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus for Syria's alleged role in the killing.

    Syria denied any involvement although a UN probe has implicated senior Syrian officials in the case.

    Washington, which had since refused high-level contacts with Damascus, has been under pressure to engage directly with Syria to help quiet down upgrading turmoil in Iraq.

    The U.S. bipartisan Iraq Study Group has urged the Bush administration to engage in talks with Syria and Iran over Iraq. However, the White House has largely ignored the suggestion.