Beirut - British Foreign Secretary David Miliband concluded a short visit to Lebanon on Monday, pledging Britain's support for Lebanese stability.

"Lebanon can be a force for stability in the Middle East rather than being a victim of instability in the Middle East. And that has been the focus of my visit so far," he told reporters after meeting Prime Minister Fouad Seniora.

"Let's be honest, the world breathed a very large sigh of relief when the Doha agreement was signed. ... It now needs to be translated into practical gains for the Lebanese people," Miliband said.

Miliband, who arrived in Beirut late Sunday, also held talks with newly-elected President Michel Suleiman and Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri.

Suleiman's election followed a six-month vacuum in the presidency due to a prolonged political crisis that pitted the ruling Western- backed bloc against the opposition, backed by Syria and Iran. The crisis turned violent in early May, resulting in the deaths of 82 people.

The violence ended on May 21 when rival factions brokered a peace deal in the Qatari capital of Doha. Miliband billed the deal, which also brought about Suleiman's election, "a turning point."

The foreign secretary said Britain would offer political and practical support for Lebanese stability.

"As a member of the UN Security Council, we are fully committed to play our part and to urge others to do so in ensuring that all of Resolution 1701 is put into practice, including the Shebaa Farms issue," he said, referring to Lebanese-claimed land seized by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war.

Resolution 1701 brought an end to 33-days of war between Israel and Hezbollah in the summer of 2006.

Miliband's Middle East tour is to take him to the Palestinian territory the West Bank after Lebanon.

He is scheduled to meet students at the Arab-American University in the West Bank town of Jenin and later head to the territory's capital Ramallah for talks with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and chief negotiator Ahmed Qurei.

On Tuesday, Miliband is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni in Jerusalem. (dpa)