"We will not support any efforts, any deals or any promises that would trade away the sovereignty of Lebanon in return for something called 'stability' which is in reality foreign interference," Welch said Saturday after meeting Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

"I reaffirmed to (Sfeir) the continuity of the commitment of the United States to Lebanon and the people of Lebanon," Welch said. "We, the American people and the American administration, stand solidly with the people of Lebanon."

Welch has also held talks with the following Lebanese leaders:
* Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at the Saray Palace in Beirut.
* MP Walid Jumblatt, PSP and Democratic Gathering leader
* MP Neyla Moawad, widow of former president Moawad
* Nassib Lahoud, former MP
* MP Boutros Harb
* MP Michel Aoun, former general and prime minister

Welch also met with other political leaders but is pointedly not meeting pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, Lebanese officials said.

Tensions have been rising between Beirut and Damascus, with the regime in Syria under mounting international pressure to cooperate in the UN probe into the February murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

The UN commission of inquiry is seeking to grill Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa, but Damascus has yet to formally respond.

Welch is accompanied by Elliott Abrams, deputy national security advisor in the administration of President George W. Bush.

The visit comes after Beirut rejected Syrian proposals to coordinate on security and diplomacy issues which had been transmitted by Saudi Arabia where the Syrian president visited on Sunday.

Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said Syria made proposals on a piece of paper that was not dated or signed and consisted of seven points. It was not an initiative by Saudi Arabia which had simply passed it on.

A Syrian source said the proposals covered security and diplomatic cooperation between Syria and Lebanon, an end to press campaigns against Syria and a Syrian commitment to lay out borders with Lebanon on condition it is preceded by a normalization of relations.

Hariri's death sparked popular protests against Syria's domination of Lebanon, leading to the departure of thousands of Syrian troops from its smaller neighbour in April after a 29-year presence.

As expected Welch's visit was not welcome by Hezbollah, a pro-Syrian militant organization supported and funded by Iran and Syria. About 200 Hezbollah supporters chanted anti-American slogans Saturday ahead of a meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Welch. Riot police fired tear gas and firefighters used water cannons to disperse the protesters, who threw stones at security forces and injured some of them.

Here are some pictures of Welch's visits with the Lebanese leaders courtesy of Dalati and Nohra:

David Welch and Cardinal Sfeir

Welch and Siniora at the Grand Serail palace

Welch and MP Walid Jumblatt

Welch meets Minister Neyla Mouawad, MP Boutos Harb & Former MP Nassib Lahoud

Welch and MP Michel Aoun

These pictures of the protests are courtesy of AP:

A protester, supporter of Hezbollah, waves a stick

A protester shouts anti-American slogans

A Hezbollah protester covers face with the Lebanese flag to protect against tear gas

Lebanese riot police stand guard in front of goverment house

Wounded Internal Security Forces from Hezbollah protesters in downtown Beirut

Wounded Internal Security Forces from Hezbollah protesters in downtown Beirut

Source: Ya Libnan, , AP, Dalati & Nohra