SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt: U.S. Senator John Kerry is challenging Syria to demonstrate its seriousness about encouraging peace and stability in the Middle East.

The chairman of the U.S. Senate's Foreign Relations Committee will meet with Syria's president this week on a tour of the region that began Sunday in Egypt.

The U.S. has accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters to cross its border into Iraq, though Syria denies that. Kerry has in the past spoken of his concern about what he said was the flow of "money, weapons and terrorists" through Syria into Iraq and Lebanon.

In Egypt on Sunday, the senator said the U.S. is eager to talk to Syria, whose president said last month he also wants a dialogue with Washington, but without preconditions.