Beirut: Syria is ready for an open debate with the United States over differences between them, Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara has said ahead of a visit to Damascus by US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Shara, who arrived in Beirut earlier for talks with Lebanese officials ahead of that trip, which will also bring Powell to Lebanon, said, "We will welcome Mr Powell to Damascus with pleasure and with the appropriate hospitality."

"He can put to us his ideas within the framework of dialogue (and) explain his views on events in the region," he added, speaking at a press conference on May 1 with his Lebanese counterpart Jean Obeid.

"We will respond to these points without a spirit of aggressiveness," Shara said, while adding, "We will not respond to demands."

Powell arrived in Spain on May 1. He was set to fly to Syria on May 2 and then to Lebanon the following day.

He is expected to discuss with the Lebanese and Syrians concerns in Washington over anti-Israel groups operating in the two countries and to press Damascus on its alleged support for terrorism and pursuit of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Asked about US pressure on Damascus to end its support for Lebanon's Shiite fundamentalist group Hezbollah, Shara said, "I will not respond to any question about demands, because no one has demanded anything of us."

However, he reiterated the Syrian position that Hezbollah is a "political party integrated into the Lebanese social fabric".