Syria on Saturday rejected comments made by Syrian-American businessman Ibrahim Suleiman, who told Israeli lawmakers last week that Syrian President Bashar Assad was ready to make peace.

A Syrian Foreign Ministry official told the official news agency, SANA, that Suleiman's comments do not reflect the Syrian vision.

During an unprecedented appearance before the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Commitee on Thursday, Suleiman said he had high-level contacts with officials in Damascus.

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He told the panel that Damascus is prepared to begin peace talks with Israel, and that he believed an initial agreement could be reached within six months.

"Syria right now is ready to speak peace. I challenged the Israeli government to answer President Bashar's call for peace and sit down together," Suleiman told reporters after the meeting. "I think it can happen in six months."

Assad has said several times in the past months that he is interested in restarting negotiations. But Olmert has insisted that Assad end his support for militant groups before talks can resume.

Earlier this year, Haaretz revealed that Suleiman held several rounds of secret, unofficial talks with former Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Liel, with the knowledge of leaders in the two countries.

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