Rice Makes Surprise Visit to Lebanon

Thu Feb 23, 4:04 PM ET

BEIRUT, Lebanon - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice hinted Thursday the United States would welcome the exit of Lebanon's pro-Syrian president. She praised democratic progress by other leaders in the country's fractured sectarian politics.

The top U.S. diplomat's surprise visit to the Lebanese capital came days after major demonstrations there against Syria's control over Lebanon.

Rice neared the close of a four-nation Middle East trip that has seen U.S. allies snub her efforts to halt aid to a Hamas-led Palestinian government. But the journey has also let her highlight an emerging democratic success story in the region, with nearly a year passing since a flowering of street protests forced Syrian troops to leave Lebanon after three decades of domination.

She said she came to Lebanon "to affirm the firm support of the United States of America for the Lebanese people as they work to have a fully sovereign, democratic Lebanon" that represents Lebanese of all religions, Rice said.

Rice took no position on whether Lebanese President Emile Lahoud should stay or go, saying the decision was up to the Lebanese. But she noted pointedly that the Lebanese "need a presidency that looks forward, not back, and that defends Lebanese sovereignty."

Lahoud is Damascus' ally in Beirut, a vestige of the days when Syria used proxy politicians to seal control of its weaker neighbor. Rice snubbed him on this trip, meeting instead with reform-minded Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and leading figures from Lebanon's Christian, Sunni and Shia Muslim groups.

Following her session with Saniora, Rice said Syria must give "full cooperation" to the U.N. investigation into last year's killing of former Premier Rafik Hariri. The probe is led by a Belgian prosecutor, Serge Brammertz.

"Full cooperation means that the Syrians should cooperate in whatever way the investigator, Mr. Brammertz, deems necessary," she said.

The U.N. Security Council has twice accused Syria of failing to cooperate fully with the inquiry, which has implicated Syrian intelligence officials. Syria has rejected the investigation's findings and contends it is cooperating fully.

Rice met Saad Hariri, son of the slain Rafik and leader of the anti-Syrian majority in parliament, and the Druse political leader Walid Jumblatt. The two men have played key roles in the campaigns against Syrian influence and President Lahoud.

She also met Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, the spiritual leader of the influential Maronite Catholic Church whom she described as a strong voice calling for freedom and democracy.

Lahoud is a Maronite, as all presidents must be under the sectarian system of power sharing, and the views of the church's patriarch on the campaign to remove the president would be significant.

After her Beirut meetings, Rice flew to the United Arab Emirates. A company owned by that government has sparked controversy in the United States by winning Bush administration approval to oversee some operations at a half-dozen major U.S. ports.

Rice discussed the ports issue with UAE leaders Thursday, said a senior State Department official speaking on condition of anonymity. The official would say little about the session, saying Rice characterized UAE as a strong ally and said the Bush administration was confident in its decision to approve the arrangement.

The Bush administration has dubbed Lebanon's anti-Syrian movement the Cedar Revolution and pointed to Lebanon as proof that democratic ideals can thrive in a region dominated by authoritarian regimes and family dynasties.

The United States claims that Syrian intelligence agents remain and that Damascus is still trying to meddle in Lebanese politics.

The slim anti-Syrian majority in Lebanon's Parliament is mulling ways to remove Lahoud, who was elected separately before the Syrian pullout. His term runs through 2007, and he has pledged to say until the last minute.

Buoyed by street protests marking the Hariri anniversary, the anti-Syrian coalition has launched a campaign against Lahoud that may include strikes and street protests, and possibly a march on the presidential palace.

Lahoud on Monday warned that "security is a red line," implicitly hinting at the use of force.

The bombing of a revered Shiite shrine in Iraq set off violence and reprisal killings across the country.

The violence and political splintering there bears resemblance to events of the devastating 15-year civil war in Lebanon. The war ended in 1990, but the country's political system is still arranged along sectarian lines.

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