U.S. to Send Envoy Back to Syria After ‘Positive Steps’

WASHINGTON — The American ambassador to Syria, William L. Eagleton Jr., will return to his post in Damascus following “positive steps” there, the State Department announced today.

Eagleton was withdrawn last October in an attempt to punish Syria diplomatically and economically for the role of Syrian intelligence in the failed attempt to blow up an El Al airliner in London.

The British government, which broke diplomatic relations with Syria over the incident, was informed earlier of the U.S. decision.

Spokeswoman Phyllis Oakley said Eagleton will return to Damascus “in the next few days.”

She said the American decision, which was made before the release last week of U.S. hostage Charles Glass in Beirut, “is a measured U.S. response to positive steps that Syria took.”