U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is meeting with top Lebanese officials during an unannounced visit to encourage the new government, just three days after its formation.
Ms. Rice is meeting at Ba'bda Palace with President Emile Lahoud, Foreign Affairs Ministers Fawzi Sallukh and Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Farid Abbud.
Speaking to journalists as she traveled to Beirut on Friday, Ms. Rice said she is looking forward to learning how the international community, particularly the United States, can be supportive.
Upon her arrival, the U.S. Secretary of State and the son of Rafik al-Hariri, visited the grave of the slain prime minister.
The visit is the first by an American secretary of state to Lebanon since Syria ended its 29-year military presence in the country in April under international pressure.
Ms. Rice is meeting at Ba'bda Palace with President Emile Lahoud, Foreign Affairs Ministers Fawzi Sallukh and Lebanon's ambassador to Washington, Farid Abbud.
Speaking to journalists as she traveled to Beirut on Friday, Ms. Rice said she is looking forward to learning how the international community, particularly the United States, can be supportive.
Upon her arrival, the U.S. Secretary of State and the son of Rafik al-Hariri, visited the grave of the slain prime minister.
The visit is the first by an American secretary of state to Lebanon since Syria ended its 29-year military presence in the country in April under international pressure.