U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday expressed gratitude for Cypriot "remarkable cooperation" in evacuating U.S. citizens from conflict- ravaged Lebanon.

Cypriot Foreign Minister George Lillikas met with Rice upon her arrival at Larnaca International Airport, where she made a stopover before heading to Lebanon, a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia said.

"The secretary of state took the opportunity to express the gratitude of the U.S. for the remarkable cooperation in the assisted departure efforts," the statement said.

The two governments pledged to remain in close touch on issues related to the situation in Lebanon and Israel, it said.

Lillikas reiterated that Cyprus will continue to put its available infrastructure and means at the disposal of foreign governments for repatriating their citizens.

Many countries have been evacuating their citizens from violence-plagued Lebanon via air and sea to Cyprus since Israel launched a massive assault on July 12 on Lebanese targets after two Israeli soldiers were kidnapped by Lebanese Hezbollah.

A total of 35,023 foreign nationals arrived in Cyprus from Lebanon after the start of the Israeli assault, Cypriot police spokesman Demetris Demetriou said on Monday.

The U.S. State Department said that more than 10,000 of

estimated 25,000 Americans in Lebanon have fled since July 16.

Source: Xinhua