Berlin - Syria is ready to cooperate with Barack Obama after he takes over as president of the United States, Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad said in an interview released Saturday.

"The new US administration has to commit itself to the Middle East peace process. We are willing to help them, along with the Europeans," Assad told the German news magazine Der Spiegel.

"We would like to play our part in stabilizing the region ... We are ready for any form of cooperation that is helpful to US relations with other countries, the president said. Obama assumes office on Tuesday.

At the same time Assad said Syria would not be be dictated to about how to conduct its relations with Iran and radical Islamic movements in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, Hamas and Hizbollah.

"Good relations with Washington do not automatically mean bad relations with Tehran," said the president, whose remarks are due to appear in Monday's edition of Der Spiegel.

He also warned Israel against carrying out a military strike against Iran's nuclear facilities, which the West fear are geared to making a bomb.

"That would be a gravest possible error. The consequences would be disastrous and destabilize the region for a long time," he said.

Assad also criticized Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which has claimed more than 1,000 Palestinian lives in the past three weeks. He called it an act of "terrorism" comparable to suicide bombings.

"What is the difference between a bomb that a person carries strapped to his body and one that is dropped from an aircraft? Both kill," he said.

At an emergency summit of the Arab League in Doha on Friday, Assad took a hardline approach and urged those Arab countries that have relations with Israel to sever those ties.

But he softened his tone in the Spiegel interview, suggesting a plan to end the fighting, which he believed would also be acceptable to Gaza's Hamas rulers.

In essence, the plan foresees a ceasefire, followed by a complete Israeli pullout from Gaza within four days and an end to the Israeli blockade of the coastal strip.

Only when this had been achieved could there be guarantees that Hamas militants would stop firing rockets at the Jewish state. The rocket bombardment was the reason given by Israel for invading Gaza.

Assad said Hamas, who some countries in the West class as a terrorist organization, must be involved in any negotiations. "Whether you like it or not, Hamas is a political force that no one can afford to ignore."

The president admitted it would be difficult to stop the trafficking of arms to Hamas, but said monitoring the borders by a third party could help.

"I believe this role could be filled by Turkey. The Turks are trustworthy and have influence. They also enjoy good relations with Israel and the Arab world."

Syria does not recognize Israel, which Assad said "is still our enemy because it continues to occupy part of our territory, the Golan Heights.

"We will extend recognition when the Israelis withdraw from the Golan. Peace has to come first, then recognition, not the other way round."

Assad said Syria had nothing to fear from an international tribunal due to begin an investigation March 1 into the assassination of former Lebanese President Rafik Hariri in February 2005.

Syria has denied any involvement in the Beirut bomb attack on Hariri, who was an outspoken opponent of Damascus' involvement in Lebanese affairs.

"We are not afraid of the proceedings," Assad said. "We have pledged out cooperation to the investigators. We hope that the real culprits will be found." (dpa)