Clinton Backs Lebanon's Sovereignty, Tribunal in Talks with Hariri.

Beirut, 08 Jan 11, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has reaffirmed strong U.S. support for Lebanon's independence and for the work of the international tribunal during talks with Prime Minister Saad Hariri in New York.
The Saudi ambassador to Washington also met Hariri.

Clinton first met Saudi King Abdullah. No details of the talks were given but State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said before the meeting: "Certainly, she will emphasize to the king, as well as to the prime minister, our support for the democratic government in Lebanon, as well as our ongoing support for the special tribunal."

The U.S. Secretary of State went from the hotel where the king is staying straight to a nearby hotel next to Central Park to meet Hariri.

"Secretary Clinton expressed her strong support for the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon," a source who attended the Hariri meeting told Agence France Presse.

Clinton also "expressed very clearly her support for the Hariri tribunal."

The Lebanese premier has said several times that he will not give into pressure from Hizbullah to end support for the tribunal.

The secretary of state left the hotel saying her talks had been "excellent" but no other official details were given. The United States has repeatedly underlined its commitment to Hariri's government and to the tribunal.

Just after she left, the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Adel Al-Jubeir, was seen going to the Hariri suite.

Saudi Arabia and Syria have been trying to mediate an end to tensions between Hariri's government and Hizbullah over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.(AFP-Naharnet)