LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was quoted on Wednesday as saying he expected U.S. President Barack Obama to send an ambassador to Syria soon to make good on a dialogue offer to countries previously shunned by Washington.

Assad said in an interview with Britain's Guardian newspaper he hoped for a new relationship with the United States after the George W. Bush era and that Washington would act as the "main arbiter" in the stalled Middle East peace process.

"An ambassador is important," said Assad.

Under Bush, the United States withdrew its ambassador from Damascus after the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and accused Syria of allowing Islamist fighters to infiltrate Iraq.

"What we have heard from them -- Obama, (Secretary of State Hillary) Clinton and others -- is positive," said Assad.

"We are still in the period of gestures and signals. There is nothing real yet."

The Guardian said later this week Assad would meet U.S. Senate foreign relations committee chairman John Kerry, the most senior American to visit Damascus in years and an advocate of restoring ambassador-level ties.

"Sending these delegations is important. This number of congressmen coming to Syria is a good gesture. It shows that this administration wants to see dialogue with Syria," said Assad.

"NO SUBSTITUTE"

On the Middle East peace process to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Assad said: "There is no substitute for the United States (as the main arbiter)."

He said he would welcome a visit to Damascus by General David Petraeus, head of the U.S. military's central command, to discuss collaboration over Iraq and other issues.

"We would like to have dialogue with the U.S. administration. We would like to see (Petraeus) here in Syria," said Assad.

Syria and the United States have been on poor terms in the past because of Damascus's support for the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah movement. A U.S. military raid on Syria last year targeted what Washington said were suspected militants linked to al Qaeda. Syria said the attack killed only civilians and closed two U.S. institutions in Damascus in response.

Cooperation between Syria and Iran has also angered Washington.

Another cause of tension between the two countries was a building in Syria that was destroyed by Israeli forces last year and that the United States said was a secret nuclear plant.

The Guardian said there was no sign Assad was prepared to renounce or downgrade Syria's relations with Hezbollah and Hamas, both classified by Washington as terrorist groups, or with Iran.

Assad said Washington could not afford to ignore Syria.

"We are a player in the region. If you want to talk about peace, you can't advance without Syria," he said.

(Editing by Ralph Gowling)

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