LONDON - Syria is ready to open a dialogue with the United States to resolve the crisis in Lebanon, deputy foreign minister Faisal Mukdad told a British all-news television channel Saturday.

With the conflict in the Middle East escalating, Mukdad told Sky News that Damascus was ready to talk on the condition that Washington engages on the question of Israeli occupation of neighbouring lands.

"It has been Syria's ongoing position that we are ready to have a dialogue with the United States," he said.

"The United States is not only not conducting dialogue with Syria, but it is preventing others from having a conversation and dialogue with Syria," he added.

"We want a dialogue based on respect (and) mutual interest, without giving instructions -- and we are ready to help if the United States has the readiness to help in resolving not only this problem (the current crisis) but in resolving the overall problems."

"If we solve this problem, then what about the other problems: the ongoing Israeli occupation of Arab territories, of Lebanese, Palestinian, Syrian territories?

Mukdad continued: "We think there will be no solution to the Middle East crisis without dealing comprehensively with all these lingering problems in the region."

Mukdad appeared on Sky News on the same day that US President George W. Bush denounced Syria and Iran for the role in the conflict in Lebanon, accusing the two nations -- both accused of supporting the militant armed Lebanese faction Hezbollah -- of posing a threat to the entire Middle East.

- AFP /ls