Rice in surprise Lebanon visit offers U.S. support to new government

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Lebanon Monday, meeting the country's new president and signaling Washington's support for controversial political arrangements that helped avert the threat of civil war.

Rice congratulated Lebanon's newly elected president and former army chief, Michel Suleiman, and said the U.S. was fully behind him.

"We are all just very supportive of your presidency and your government," she said just before talks at Suleiman's state palace.

On her way to Beirut from Israel, Rice told journalists travelling with her that the unannounced visit was aimed at strengthening democracy and discussing "how the United States can support the institutions of a free Lebanon."

Analysts say there's much about the new Lebanese government that won't please Washington, a staunch supporter of the previous, pro-Western administration of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

Although Siniora has been reappointed as head of government, the new alliance has a much stronger role for Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim militia and political movement, which the U.S. considers an Iranian- and Syrian-backed terrorist group.

CBC news