Feltman Arrives in Beirut for Talks with Lebanese Leaders

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman arrived in Beirut on Thursday for talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati.

He may also meet with caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who is currently abroad.

Well-informed sources told Lebanese daily An Nahar that some parties in the March 8 camp have waged a campaign against Feltman's visit in a bid to depict it as being about the cabinet formation process.

However, the sources noted that Feltman's visit is aimed at inquiring about various positions on developments in the region.

Feltman is also scheduled to meet with political officials over a dinner banquet at the U.S. Embassy, sources told Naharnet on Wednesday.

A Western diplomat told Al-Liwaa newspaper in remarks published Wednesday that the visit comes on the eve of a new U.S. initiative on the Middle East and the peace process.

Feltman's visit coincided with a key speech on the Middle East delivered Thursday evening by U.S. President Barack Obama.

His trip also comes amid three major developments: the turmoil in Syria and its implications on Lebanon, Sunday's deadly protests in the Lebanese border town of Maroun al-Ras in which 11 Palestinian refugees were killed by Israeli gunfire, and the cabinet formation deadlock.