Faraya, Lebanon  - Models in thongs and lacy bras graced the catwalk over the weekend at the foot of snow-covered slopes in Lebanon to promote the country's much-delayed ski season.

Despite chilly weather, the sunny terrace of the five-star Intercontinental Mzaar Hotel was packed with a curious audience, mostly men, waiting to watch models displaying the latest swimwear, thongs and nightgowns on the slopes of Faraya, north-east of Beirut.

Beirut - US Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern
Affairs Jeffrey Feltman and top Middle East officer at the US National
Security Council Daniel Shapiro, held Friday talks with Lebanese
officials stressing on their country's backing for Lebanon's
sovereignty.

"We are carrying a message to the Lebanese leaders from (US)
President Barack Obama and the (US) Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
that the US backs Lebanon's sovereignty and democracy," Feltman said
after meeting Lebanese president Michel Suleiman.

The US delegation, which arrived in Beirut late Thursday, is

Beirut- The Lebanese Shiite militant group Hezbollah is adopting a "wait and see" position towards the British government decision to establish contacts with the movement's parliamentarians, a Hezbollah source said Friday.

The source said the "movement was waiting on what steps Britain would take after," he said without elaborating.

On Thursday, the British Foreign Office confirmed that it had "reconsidered" its position on contacts with Hezbollah.

Beirut - Lebanon Tuesday accused the Israeli army - through shooting at the main road linking the southern Lebanese border villages of Adeisseh and Kfar Killa - of violating a UN resolution.

"The shooting by Israeli soldiers on the road of Adeisseh is a violation of the UN resolution 1701," a statement by the Lebanese army command said.

Beirut  - Lebanon's rival political factions vowed on Monday to carry out a peaceful legislative election in June, a statement by the Lebanese presidential palace said.

The conferees pledged "not to resort to any kind of violence," President Michel Suleiman's office said in a statement.

The pledge came during the fifth round of national dialogue talks between the ruling majority in parliament that is against former Lebanese powerbroker Syria and the opposition led by the pro-Syrian Islamist group Hezbollah.

Beirut  - The head of Lebanon's majority in parliament, Saad Hariri, said Sunday the launch of the Special Tribunal into the assassination of his father Rafik Hariri was achieved by the Lebanese people's will.

Hariri, in a statement made during a visit to Abu Dhabi, said the the Lebanese people "expressed solidarity with the court, refused to be intimidated by threats, helped ending Syrian guardianship of Lebanon and liberated territories from Israeli occupation."