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Rice visit 'to back free Lebanon' Rice praises Lebanese democracy
(9 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has begun an unannounced visit to Lebanon after the May power-sharing deal which ended an 18-month crisis. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is on an unannounced visit to Lebanon after the May power-sharing deal which ended an 18-month crisis.
She said she was going to express US "support for Lebanese democracy... and sovereignty" and talk about how the US could support "free" institutions. She expressed US support for Lebanese democracy and praised new President Michel Suleiman as a "very fine man".
She will meet the new president, heads of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and the pro-Syrian speaker. She said she hoped disputes over a proposed unity government would be resolved quickly.
Pro-Syrian group Hezbollah won a power of veto under the power-sharing deal. Ms Rice is the first high-level US official to visit Lebanon since the Doha agreement.
Ms Rice is the first high-level US official to visit Lebanon since the Doha agreement and will meet the new President, Michel Suleiman, for the first time.
The deal handed the Hezbollah-led opposition wider representation in cabinet and the constitutional power to block government decision making.The deal handed the Hezbollah-led opposition wider representation in cabinet and the constitutional power to block government decision making.
Looking forwardLooking forward
Correspondents say the ascendancy of the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Shia Muslim movement Hezbollah was a setback for the US.Correspondents say the ascendancy of the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Shia Muslim movement Hezbollah was a setback for the US.
However, Washington welcomed the Doha agreement, which seemed to pull Lebanon back from a possible return to civil war.However, Washington welcomed the Doha agreement, which seemed to pull Lebanon back from a possible return to civil war.
"I am looking forward to going to Lebanon to meet with the president and to talk with various Lebanese officials," said Ms Rice on her way to Beirut. "I have expressed on behalf of President Bush and on behalf of the American people our desire to support Lebanon, its government, its democratic institutions and its people in building a fully sovereign Lebanon, a peaceful Lebanon, and a Lebanon that is prosperous and democratic for all of its people," Ms Rice said.
"But I am also going to express the United States' support for Lebanese democracy, for Lebanese sovereignty." "It was really delightful to meet the president.
Her meetings would discuss "how the United States can support the institutions of a free Lebanon including the work that we do to support the armed forces, to support the Lebanese economy and the Lebanese civil society". "I know that it has been a struggle for Lebanon to get to the election of its president but I come away knowing that Lebanon has succeeded in electing a very fine man and we look forward to working with him."
Ms Rice flew into Beirut after talks with officials in Israel, Lebanon's southern neighbour which fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah in 2006 that left Lebanese infrastructure in ruins in many Shia areas.Ms Rice flew into Beirut after talks with officials in Israel, Lebanon's southern neighbour which fought a 34-day war with Hezbollah in 2006 that left Lebanese infrastructure in ruins in many Shia areas.