WASHINGTON, June 23 (SPA) - President Barack Obama hasdecided to return a U.S. ambassador to Syria after a four-yearhiatus as talks between the two nations intensify, U.S. mediareported on Tuesday. The State Department informed Syria's ambassador toWashington, Imad Mustafa, of Obama's intention on Tuesday night,a senior administration official told the Washington Post. By returning a senior U.S. envoy to Damascus, Obama isseeking to carve out a far larger role for the United States inthe region as he works to rehabilitate U.S. relations with theIslamic world and the Arab Middle East, the newspaper said. "It's in our interests to have an ambassador in Syria," asenior administration official told CNN. Mustafa welcomed the decision to name a U.S. envoy toincrease dialogue among stakeholders in the Middle East, CNNsaid. The announcement of a new ambassador is expected to bemade later this week but no individual has been chosen to fillthe post, Reuters quoted the report as saying.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/677833