Washington  - US President George W Bush voiced his support for the democratic government of Lebanon free of Syrian influence during his meeting Thursday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.

"The United States is proud to stand by your side," Bush said. "Our mission is your mission: a country that is strong and capable, and a country where people can live in peace."

Suleiman was making his first visit to the White House since being sworn in in May after months of delays in appointing a new president of the country and street battles between rival groups, including Syria-backed Hezbollah.

The fighting promoted the Bush administration to step up military aid to Lebanon as government security forces were unable to stop the violence.

"I am here to thank you for all the efforts that you have undertaken in order to support Lebanon, particularly the military institutions of Lebanon," Suleiman said.

Syria withdrew from Lebanon after nearly 30 years of occupation in 2005, following the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Washington and other countries suspect Syrian intelligence was behind the killing of Hariri and several other prominent Lebanese politicians opposed to Damascus' meddling in Lebanon.

The United States and France sought to increase pressure on Syria through the UN Security Council to pull out of Lebanon.

"We are here also to reaffirm our right in having a prosperous Lebanon, a democratic Lebanon, a country that it is diverse in its nature and through its people," Suleiman said.

Suleiman also said that there must be a resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict that allows the thousands of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon to return to a Palestinian state.

"The future of Palestinian refugees is in their homeland, not in Lebanon," Suleiman said. (dpa)