Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair says he's willing to start talking to Syria again if they cooperate with the UN inquiry.

In a sign that the thaw has begun - it's been weeks since Bush's last onslaught against Syria - Britain has backed off from threatening sanctions against Syria if they fail to cooperate.

"I am very happy to have a dialogue with the Syrian government but it has to be on very, very clear terms and it's important they are not only saying these things (on cooperation) but that they are doing them," Blair said.

"The fact is there can be no justification for interfering in Lebanon and the Mehlis report was not good reading for Syria, you have to accept that."