| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Rice in surprise visit to Beirut |
| 2005-07-22 |
| US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has arrived in Beirut in an unexpected departure from the published schedule for her current Middle East trip. She is meeting the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and other leading officials. The visit follows the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon, following US pressure, and comes days after the formation of a new Lebanese government. Ms Rice is on hastily-arranged three-day visit to the Middle East. "This will be an opportunity first of all to congratulate the Lebanese people on their incredible desire for democracy and the fact that they keep pressing forward and (have) now formed a government," Ms Rice told reporters on her plane Beirut from Jerusalem. She met Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on Friday morning and is expected to have talks with Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday. The visit to the region follows a surge in Palestinian-Israeli violence and mass protests by Israelis opposed to the withdrawal, set for mid-August. Ms Rice appears to have cleared her schedule for Friday after the meeting with Mr Sharon to make time for the visit to Lebanon. |
| Posted by:Steve |