Peace message to Syria conditional-Israeli official

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Syria must stop supporting "terrorist groups" before Israel can engage it in peace talks, an Israeli government official said on Wednesday, expanding on a message U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi conveyed in Damascus.

"Several days ago, the speaker of the House asked Prime Minister Ehud Olmert if he had any message to give to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad," the official said.

"The prime minister said Israel is interested in peace with Syria, but Syria would first have to abandon the path of terror and providing support for terrorist groups," the official told Reuters.

In Damascus, Pelosi, the top House Democrat, said she had given Assad a message from Olmert that Israel was willing to engage in peace talks.

On Sunday, Olmert called on Arab leaders to meet him for a peace summit but he gave no indication that Israel had lifted its refusal to hold bilateral talks with Syria until it ceases its backing of Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups.