"Russia has always sided with Lebanon. Today, we are again in need of Russia's assistance in overcoming the current crisis," Hariri told Putin in Novo-Ogaryovo on Tuesday.

Putin replied that Moscow "has been closely following the situation in Lebanon."

Hariri said that he hoped to discuss this issue in detail with the Russian president. "Thanks to your personal efforts, among other factors, Russia has always been on the side of Lebanon in times of
trouble," Hariri said, addressing Putin.

Hariri said he had arrived in Moscow "at a truly crucial moment in Lebanon's history."

"Ahead of Lebanon's national holiday - the Day of Independence - I would like to congratulate the people of Lebanon and wish them peace, well being and unity," the Russian president said.

Hariri earlier said that Damascus was attempting to influence the Lebanese presidential election.

Russia for its part has called on many occasions for the Lebanese presidential elections to be held in strict accordance with the Lebanese constitution and without external interference.

Most political analysts agree that Lebanon's ills are rooted in Tehran and Damascus, not Beirut and Putin should be able to pressure both because he may be their only friend.

The elections of a new president in Lebanon were for the fourth time delayed again today. The new election date is scheduled for Friday , the last day of the pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud, whose term expires at midnight Friday

Update: 6:30PM Beirut time

The meeting lasted nearly two hours, during which President Putin told Hariri that Moscow insists on the need to complete the presidential elections on schedule, pointing out that failure to accomplish this on time is detrimental to Lebanon, and Russia rejects this. President Putin promised Hariri that he will immediately contact both Iran and Syria to on this issue.

Hariri also met with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who told him: "We are very pleased with your visit to Moscow and I want to congratulate you on the Lebanese national holiday, and I hope that you will be able to address the situation of Lebanon before that date, especially the problems related to the maintenance of harmony and national unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon. We support your personal efforts in this direction and we hope that today we are discussing what the best way to move forward together in this direction.

Sources - Interfax, Ya Libnan