US senator says Syrian president is ready for peace with Israel

President Bashar Assad is ready for peace with Israel, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter said Sunday after talks with the Syrian leader.

Specter said Israel will have to return the Golan Heights for peace, adding that the United States has the potential to "bridge the gap" between Israel and Syria, who have not held peace talks since 2000.

Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, and Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Rhode Island Democrat, held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad on the last day of their two-day visit to Damascus.

Specter said he had the impression from the meeting that the time was very "positive for productive talks between …