Rice makes surprise visit to Lebanon

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to politically-volatile Lebanon today.

The visit was made amid efforts by anti-Syrian leaders to oust Lebanon’s pro-Syrian president and resolve a UN inquiry into the murder of a Lebanese politician.

Rice took no specific position on whether President Emile Lahoud should stay or go, but she noted pointedly that the Lebanese “need a presidency that looks forward, not back, and that defends Lebanese sovereignty”.