Iranian president starts visit to Lebanon
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Beirut on Wednesday morning, starting a controversial visit to the Mediterranean country.
Ahmadinejad, who is on his first visit to Lebanon since he took office, was heavily criticized by the United States and Israel, who said last week that his visit undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. Lebanon's factions from the Western-backed March 14 Alliance described the visit as provocative.
Analysts in Beirut, meanwhile, said the trip was meant to show Iran's support for the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
During his two-day visit, Ahmadinejad is expected to sign with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman a series of agreements on such fields as economy, energy, and culture. He will also attend a rally in Beirut's southern suburb Dahiyeh, which is Hezbollah's stronghold, and give a speech.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Ahmadinejad will also visit south Lebanon, where he will deliver a speech in the town of Bint Jbeil, several kilometers away from the border with Israel.
Local As-Safir newspaper reported Wednesday that Ahmadinejad is expected to extended his stay in Lebanon for a third day, so as to meet with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is reported to arrive in Beirut on Friday.
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