President Barack Obama's special Mideast envoy says the U.S. administration is determined to achieve a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace settlement. George Mitchell was speaking to reporters Sunday in Damascus after talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad, The Associated Press reported. It is Mitchell's second visit to Syria since he took up his post in the latest U.S. diplomatic outreach to the country. Last month, Mitchell became the highest-level U.S. administration official to visit Damascus since 2005. He acknowledged Syria's clout, declaring Damascus has a key role to play in promoting Mideast peace.
