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
scheduled to travel next to Syria, which occupied Lebanon for nearly
three decades until 2005.

"I am carrying a message to the Syrians that the Lebanese alone should decide the fate of their country," Feltman said.

Syria, amid local and international outcry, was forced to end its
military presence in Lebanon on April 26, 2005 following the
assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri. Damascus,
suspected of complicity, has denied any involvement in the Hariri
killing.

"The (US) president has been clear, engagement is a tool of our
policy," Feltman, the former US ambassador to Beirut added. "The
president has said he wants to sustain in principle engagement with all
states in the region and that includes Syria."

Feltman, however, stressed that Washington had a "long list" of
concerns that he and fellow envoy Daniel Shapiro planned to discuss
with Syrian officials when they meet them at the weekend.

"Our trip to Syria ... is an opportunity for us to start addressing
these concerns and using engagement as a tool to promote our objectives
in the region," Feltman said.

US officials have repeatedly maintained that renewed ties with Syria will not effect the US stance towards Lebanon.

"The US-Syrian dialogue won't be at Lebanon's expense," the US official said.

US-Syrian relations have long been tense. Syria's support for
militant organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, has drawn criticism by
Washington, which has also accused Syria of allowing foreign fighters
to cross into Iraq.

Relations soured further when the former administration of US
president George W. Bush pulled the US ambassador out of Syria in 2005
to protest Syria's suspected role in the assassination of Hariri.

Feltman, after talks with Lebanon's premier Fouad Seniora, welcomed
the upcoming parliamentary elections in Lebanon, due on June 7.

"We very much look forward to watching Lebanon as a vibrant
democracy in action this year during an election campaign and the
upcoming parliamentary elections," Feltman said.

Feltman and Shapiro are also scheduled to meet with various
Lebanese politicians, including anti-Syrian Druze leader MP Walid
Jumblat. (dpa)