Lebanese president praises Saudi peace efforts

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Monday praised mediation efforts by Saudi Arabia, expressing hope that such efforts would ease tension in Lebanon, local press reported.

Recent talks between Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have eased tension in the volatile Mideast region and created a positive and hopeful climate in the region, Lahoud told Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Abdul Aziz Khojah in a meeting.

For his part, Khojah said that Saudi Arabia would be pleased to host at any time any conference bringing together Lebanese political leaders.

Ahmadinejad paid a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia last Saturday during which he met with the king to discuss the latest developments in the Middle East.

The Iranian president expressed support for Riyadh's efforts to calm down the situation in Lebanon and resolve the political crisis there.

Ahmadinejad's visit to Riyadh came at a time when Lebanon is suffering a political crisis. The Hezbollah-led opposition launched an open-ended sit-in in downtown Beirut on Dec. 1 to topple Prime Minister Fouad Seniora's government.

Source: Xinhua