Merkel in Lebanon

Merkel called on Lebanon's former powerbroker Syria to help establish democracy and secure peace in its smaller neighbor.

"We want to see Lebanon sovereign and independent," said Merkel during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Fuad Seniora held at government buildings in the Lebanese capital.

"Syria should help in establishing a democratic Lebanon, and establish normal diplomatic relations with Lebanon," she added, also calling for Damascus to crack down on cross-border smuggling and to work towards the demarcation of the neighbors' joint frontier.

The German chancellor called on Syria to also help and "meet all the requests of" the United Nations commission probing the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

Solving Hariri's assassination

Hariri was killed February 2005 in a massive bomb blast on Beirut's seafront along with 20 other people. His assassination was widely blamed on Syria, a charge which is so far vehemently denied by Damascus.

"It is essential for the Lebanese people to establish an international court to try suspects in the Hariri assassination," Merkel told reporters. "We hope the international tribunal will

be established very soon."

Merkel also laid a wreath on Hariri's tomb in downtown Beirut in the presence of the slain politician's son, the head of the anti- Syrian parliamentary majority, Saad Hariri.

Lebanese Shiite House Speaker Nabih Berri, whom Merkel also met, has come under attack by Western governments for not holding a parliamentary session to approve the draft of the international court to try suspects in Hariri's 2005 assassination.

Internal struggle

The draft was sent to parliament as Merkel arrived in the country, but it was returned to Saniora, a move seen by the anti-Syrian camp that pro-Syrian Berri will not convene a parliament session soon.

The anti-Syrian camp believes the opposition, led by Hezbollah and backed by Berri, is trying to block the approval of the draft to protect their Syrian allies, who are widely thought to have been behind Hariri's assassination.

Merkel started official talks with the Lebanese leaders, focusing on bilateral relations and Berlin's continued support of Lebanon's independence from Syrian influence.

Saniora had also been expected to brief Merkel on the internal political crisis in Lebanon during their meeting in the presence of Lebanese Defense Minister Elias Murr and other senior officials, a Lebanese government source told the dpa news service.

Visiting German troops

She is scheduled to inspect German troops heading the United Nations naval patrol and stationed off the Lebanese coast to prevent arms smuggling to Hezbollah under UN resolution 1701, which ended 33 days of fighting in Lebanon between Israeli and Hezbollah forces in July 2006.

Referring to the German naval forces patrolling the Lebanese coast in a bid to prevent arms smuggling to Hezbollah, Merkel said it was "too early" to discuss a possible extension of

their mandate.

Germany heads the United Nations naval patrol of the Lebanese coast in accordance with UN security council resolution 1701, which on Aug. 14 last ended the Israeli-Hezbollah war. Germany also provides technical assistance to the Lebanese customs department at Beirut International Airport, its port and borders to help step up the country's security.

Lebanon is the final stop on Merkel's current diplomacy tour of the Middle East, which previously included talks in Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.