Beirut - Visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
Clinton said Sunday that Lebanon's upcoming parliamentary election is
crucial for an 'independent and sovereign Lebanon.'
Clinton, who arrived unexpectedly in Beirut earlier Sunday amid
tight security measures, stressed that she is in Lebanon 'to send a
clear message for fair and transparent elections.
'The polls must be held outside the circle of violence and foreign
meddling to allow the people to choose their representatives
peacefully,' Clinton said after meeting Lebanese President Michel
Suleiman.
Lebanon's parliamentary elections are set for June 7. The race
will be tight between the western-backed ruling majority and the
Hezbollah-led opposition.
It was Clinton's first visit to Lebanon since taking office.
Clinton added that the US backed Suleiman's efforts 'to build a
peaceful, prosperous, sovereign and democratic Lebanon.'
She is accompanied on the visit by Acting Assistant Secretary of
State for Near Eastern Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman, a former ambassador
to Beirut.
After her meeting with Suleiman, Clinton visited the tomb of slain
former premier Rafik Hariri and was met by MP Saad Hariri.
'We back the UN international tribunal in the assassination of
premier Hariri,' Clinton was quoted as telling Saad Hariri, son of
the late premier and head of the ruling majority.
Hariri's February 2005 assassination, blamed by many people in
Lebanon on Damascus, triggered massive demonstrations which put an
end to years of Syrian control over Lebanon.
Clinton stressed that her country supports 'the voices of
moderation and the Lebanese Army as the sole protector of Lebanon.'
According to a Lebanese government official, Clinton reassured
Lebanese leaders that that US efforts to engage in talks with Syria
and Iran would not come at their expense.
'Our discussions with the Syrians are not coming at the expense of
the support for Lebanon's independence,' Clinton was quoted as
telling Lebanese officials.
Syria and Iran are the main backers of Lebanese Shiite movement,
which the United States considers a terrorist organization.
The United States and their Arab allies, like Saudi Arabia, are
strong supporters of Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and the anti-Syrian
Sunni-led coalition that holds a majority in parliament.
Prior to her arrival in Lebanon, the new US Secretary of State had
been in Kuwait and Iraq. In Baghdad on Saturday, she had met with top
Iraqi leaders and assured them of continued US support for Iraq even
as it withdrew combat troops.
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