DAMASCUS, Syria, Dec. 3  -- U. S. President-elect Barack Obama's choice of Hillary Clinton as secretary of state should help build peace in the Middle East, an official Syrian source says.

In a report published Wednesday, the source stressed the importance of Clinton's presence to the resuscitation of the Israeli-Syrian peace talks, Ynet. news. com said.

The Syrian official also commended Clinton for her commitment to "render the U. S. a power for positive change" in the world by cooperating with the international community to solve global crises.

Syrian President Bashar Assad stated earlier that Washington has begun to send "clear signals" to Damascus with plans to return a U. S. ambassador to Syria in early 2009. (UPI)