Beirut - A US diplomat told Lebanese officials Friday that his country will not pursue relations with Syria at the expense of its ties to Lebanon.

"There is no deal with Damascus at Lebanon's expense and no compromise on the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (for the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri)," US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Hale said after meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.

Hale's visit to Lebanon comes a day after Jeffrey Feltman, the State Department's top Middle East envoy, held talks with Syrian officials in Damascus.

The Lebanese daily An Nahar said Hale is expected to inform Lebanese officials about the results of Feltman's meetings in Damascus. He will also reiterate US support for Lebanon.

Feltman was accompanied to Damascus by White House official Daniel Shapiro. Their trip was part of US President Barack Obama administration's outreach to nations shunned by former President George Bush.

Syria, which has been a power broker in Lebanon for 30 years, pulled its troops from its small neighboring country in 2005, but still has influential allies in the opposition. Those allies are in a tight race with the majority in Lebanon's upcoming Parliamentary elections, scheduled for June.

Members of the anti-Syrian ruling majority in Lebanon, who are backed by the United States and other Western countries have expressed fears about repeated visits by US officials to Syria.

The United States withdrew its ambassador to Syria in 2005 after the assassination of Hariri. That murder was widely blamed on Syria - a claim Damascus denies. Washington has long objected to Syria's support for the Lebanese Shiite Movement Hezbollah and Hamas militant groups, as well as its alliance with Iran. (dpa)