Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri greeted the emir at Beirut's bombed international airport.

The Qatari leader earlier held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, days after Assad criticized pro-U.S. Arab governments for failing to support Hezbollah during more than a month of Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

Officials said the two leaders discussed "the situation in Lebanon and Palestine".

Qatar, which hosts a U.S. military headquarters, also has links with Israel. Syria hosts exiled leaders of the Palestinian movement Hamas and is a main supporter of Hezbollah.

Lebanese officials have said Qatar has offered to rebuild villages in south Lebanon devastated by Israeli bombardment.

The 34-day war, which claimed the lives of nearly 1,200 people in Lebanon and 157 Israelis, was halted by a U.N.-backed truce a week ago.

The Arab countries met yesterday in Cairo to discuss aid to Lebanon. Saudi Arabia has already contributed $500 million and Kuwait $800 million to rebuilding the country after it was destroyed by Israel during the 33 day war.

Picture: Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani ( L) with president lahoud ( C) and Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ( R) upon arrival at Beirut Airport

Sources: Reuters , Ya Libnan