US Secretary of State Rice makes important visit to Lebanon

While it was only a very brief visit, the US Secretary of State's appearance in Beirut overnight was highly significant.

The US is crucial to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis in Lebanon and now, for the first time since the fighting on the Lebanese-Israeli border erupted two weeks ago, a senior Bush administration official has travelled to the region.

Condoleezza Rice is now in Israel after making her surprise visit to Beirut.There she expressed her "deep concern" for the plight of civilians caught up in the fighting, a situation which British Prime Minister Tony Blair describes as a "catastrophe".

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says :

Condoleezza Rice flew into Beirut on board a helicopter from Cyprus, her trip to the Lebanese capital kept secret until the last minute because of security concerns.

It's the first visit by the US Secretary of State to the region since the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel erupted two weeks ago, and it signals the US is stepping up its diplomatic efforts to search for a resolution to end the conflict.Dr Rice spent five hours in Beirut, praising Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora for his "courage" in the face of the violence, and also meeting the Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, who's an ally of Hezbollah's leader.

My thoughts and heartfelt prayers are for peace ! I wish Secretary of State Rice succcess on her important mission.