Beirut  - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Beirut late Friday as part of his Middle East tour to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip.

Ban landed amid heavy security at Beirut International Airport. He was scheduled to meet Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, premier Fouad Seniora and House Speaker Nabih Berri on Saturday.

He will also deliver a speech at the Lebanese Parliament, during which he will address the Israeli offensive in Gaza. Ban will then head to south Lebanon to visit the UN Interim Force in Lebanon.

The UN chief has already visited Egypt, Jordan, Israel, the Palestinian territories and Turkey.

Following his visit to Lebanon, he will leave for Syria to hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. (dpa)