Mitchell to visit Syria soon, US official says

US special envoy for Middle East peace George Mitchell will visit Syria soon, a US official said on Tuesday, in a sign US efforts to reach a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace may be gathering pace.

"He will stay in the region and visit Syria after the Secretary (of State Hillary Clinton) returns to the US," said the official. Clinton, who met Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Tuesday, is expected to leave the region on Thursday after talks in Jerusalem, Ramallah and Amman. (Reuters)