Rice meets Lebanese in Beirut

In a surprise visit to Beirut today, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice praised the beleaguered prime minister of Lebanon for his courage in struggling to contain the fighting between the Hezbollah militia and Israel.

Lebanon’s parliament speaker has rejected proposals brought by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today, insisting a ceasefire must precede any talks about resolving Hezbollah’s presence in the south, an official close to the speaker said.

Ms Rice’s talks with prime minister Fuad Saniora in Beirut also appeared to have been tense. Mr Saniora told Ms Rice that Israel’s bombardment was taking his country “backwards 50 years” and also called for a “swift cease-fire,” according to his office.