Assad, King Abdallah visit Lebanon

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 30 (UPI) -- Syrian and Saudi leaders pledged to try to diffuse possible tensions if a U.N. tribunal indicts Hezbollah members in the death of a Lebanese leader.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and King Abdallah of Saudi Arabia were to meet in Beirut Friday with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, the BBC reported.

The two leaders vowed to work together to help stabilize Lebanon, the report said.

It is Assad's first visit to Lebanon since 2005, when Syria withdrew its troops after the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Hezbollah, listed on the U.S. terrorist list, is Syria's chief ally in Lebanon and Hariri had close links to Saudi Arabia. Hariri's son, Saad, is the current Lebanese prime minister.

Saad Hariri said he hoped Friday's visit would lead to "major stability" in the region. Hezbollah's deputy leader called the trip "an opportunity to show Arab unity in the face of this plot, which aims to destabilize Lebanon and sow sedition."

Assad and Abdallah were instrumental in ending a months-long deadlock blocking the formation of a unity government that included Hezbollah in Lebanon in November.

Lebanon's relations with Syria have been strained since the assassination of Rafik Hariri, the subsequent anti-Syrian demonstrations and the end of the 29-year Syrian military presence, the British broadcaster said.

Although relations have improved between Syria and Lebanon, tensions re-emerged last week, with Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah reacting to reports that the Hariri tribunal could indict several members of the group for Rafik Hariri's death, the BBC said. Nasrallah has said he would not accept the possibility of indictments. He said the tribunal was politicized and part of an "Israeli project."