Biden links Lebanese vote to U.S. aid

BEIRUT, Lebanon, May 22 (UPI) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Beirut on Friday for a brief visit to express U.S. support for an independent Lebanon ahead of June 7 elections.

Biden met with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Nabih Berri, the speaker of the Lebanese Parliament.

His visit, the first such trip by a U.S. vice president since 1983, comes as Lebanon prepares for parliamentary elections where the opposition March 8 coalition, which includes Hezbollah, is expected to take a slim majority over the pro-Western March 14 slate.

"I do not come here to back any political party or any particular person," Biden told reporters. "The shape and composition of Lebanon's government is for the Lebanese people to decide, to state the obvious."

He reiterated the U.S. position that the outcome of the Lebanese vote may have an impact on Washington assistance programs for Beirut.

Washington is a key supporter for the Lebanese military, which is struggling to increase its viability in the wake of the 2006 conflict between Hezbollah and Israel.

U.S. military aid to Lebanon is expected to approach $200 million for 2009. Biden said during his seven-hour visit that Washington may consider renewed military support. Washington already supplied the Lebanese military with surveillance aircraft equipped with Hellfire missiles to support border patrol efforts.

A report by Hezbollah's al-Manar television network says the Biden visit, which comes on the heels of a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, is a sign that Washington is meddling in Lebanese affairs amid worries over the March 8 victory.