Pelosi — currently in Israel with a delegation that includes Democrat Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the US Congress — will travel to Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia, said Ellison spokesman Rick Jauert.

The White House swiftly denounced Pelosi’s plan, which would make her the most senior US official to visit Syria in years, as “a really bad idea” that might only help Syrian President Bashar Al Assad.

“Assad probably really wants people to come and have a photo opportunity and have tea with him and have discussions about where they’re coming from but we do think that it’s a really bad idea,” said spokeswoman Dana Perino.

“This is a country that is a state sponsor of terror, one that is trying to disrupt the Siniora government in Lebanon, and one that is allowing foreign fighters to flow into Iraq from its borders,” Perino told reporters. “So we don’t think it’s productive to go to Syria,” the spokeswoman said. “I’m not sure what she’s hoping to accomplish there.”

Pelosi’s trip comes two weeks after Ellen Sauerbrey, the US assistant secretary of state for refugees and migration, returned from the highest-level US diplomatic visit to Syria in two years.

Washington withdrew its ambassador in Damascus after Syrian authorities were implicated in the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al Hariri in Beirut. Also travelling with Pelosi were the Democratic chairs of the House committees on foreign affairs, Tom Lantos; government reform, Henry Waxman; resources, Nick Rahall; rules, Louise Slaughter, as well as Democratic Representative David Hobson, said Jauert.

“They are in Jerusalem. They will meet with (Israeli) Prime Minister (Ehud) Olmert,” said Jauert, who said it was unclear whether the group would travel to Ramallah to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. “They will also travel to Syria, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia,” said Jauert, who declined to provide a more detailed itinerary because of security concerns.

Separately, Pelosi’s office said the Speaker, who is just behind Vice President Dick Cheney in the line of succession, would address Israel’s Knesset on April 1. Aides to US President George W Bush said they were unsure whether Pelosi had spoken to White House officials or the US State Department about the trip, as is traditional when lawmakers go overseas. -AFP