BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 28 (UPI) -- A visit to Lebanon by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was aimed at support for Beirut, not an intrusion ahead of parliamentary elections, officials say.
Clinton wrapped up a Middle East tour with a weekend stopover in Lebanon, expressing support for the June parliamentary elections.
World leaders and others have expressed support for the Lebanese political climate as the country emerges from decades of civil war and Syrian dominance.
Lebanese Forces candidate Eddie Abi el-Lamaa told the Trend News Agency that Clinton's visit to Beirut was not seen as disruptive to the electoral process.
"The visit's goal is support (for) Lebanon," he said. "But this will neither weaken, nor strengthen the position of any party."
Analysts and observers predict a tight race between the pro-Western March 14 slate and the March 8 coalition, which includes the Lebanese Hezbollah.
As the June 7 date approaches, however, it appears opposition leaders with Hezbollah may emerge in the majority.
