In Lebanon, Rice Snubs Pro-Syria Leader

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew into Beirut unannounced Thursday and snubbed pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud while posing before cameras with some of his leading political opponents.

Rice also made it clear that the Bush administration would not shed any tears if reinvigorated efforts by its Lebanese allies succeeded in toppling Lahoud.

“You need a presidency that looks forward, not back -- and that defends Lebanese sovereignty,” Rice told journalists traveling with her to Lebanon.

Despite the strong words, the United States’ top diplomat also sought to avoid criticism that Washington was meddling in Lebanon’s internal affairs, declaring at a news conference, “It is up to the Lebanese people to decide who is going to govern this country.”

Lahoud is closely allied with the Syrian government in Damascus. His term was extended by parliament, under Syrian pressure, in September 2004.

Five months later, former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated. Syria denied any role, but the killing sparked mass protests in Beirut, forcing Damascus to bow to foreign pressure and end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon.

Rice spent about four hours in Beirut under tight security, whisked from stop to stop in a motorcade of armored vehicles.

Her first meeting was with the Maronite spiritual leader, Nasrallah Sfeir, a powerful political figure who could play a role in picking a future president.

Rice met separately with Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who is perhaps Lahoud’s toughest political opponent.

She also held a joint session with Saad Hariri, son of the slain former prime minister, and Walid Jumblatt, the Druze leader who is yet another vocal critic of Lahoud.