Welch , who surprised Lebanon last Saturday with an unscheduled visit left Lebanon last Sunday around noon time after meeting with Army chief General Michel Suleiman and headed to France via Cyprus.
Before leaving Lebanon Welch stressed on the "importance of holding the presidential election" .
Welch also condemned the assassination of Brig. General Francoise Hajj and offered his condolences .He also conveyed to Suleiman a "message of (US.) support for the Lebanese army."
Gen. Suleiman became the frontrunner for the presidential office after the majority nominated him as the compromise candidate . Hi election is facing uphill battles since the Syrian backed opposition is trying to extract a heavy price before approving his nomination.
During his last surprise visit , Welch met all the key Lebanese leaders except General Michel Aoun. Aoun’ s alliance with the Iranian and Syrian backed Hezbollah group has irritated the Lebanese majority alliance which is backed by the US. US ambassador Jeffrey Feltman said “ Aoun sounds more and more like Butheina Shaaban” , Syria's Expatriates Minister and a regular critic of the US
Tags: Beirut, Hariri, Lebanon, Suleiman, welch
