U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice made a surprise visit to Lebanon on Monday to show support for President Michel Suleiman and efforts to form a new cabinet.

"I am looking forward to going to Lebanon to meet with the president and to talk with various Lebanese officials," Rice told reporters on her way to Beirut from Tel Aviv.

"But I am also going to express the United States support for Lebanese democracy, for Lebanese sovereignty."

She said her visit was aimed at discussing "how the United States can support the institutions of a free Lebanon including the work that we do to support the armed forces, to support the Lebanese economy and the Lebanese civil society."

Rice was due to meet with newly elected President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, Parliament Speaker and opposition stalwart Nabih Berri and parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri.

Her visit, under tight security, comes amid continued bickering between the ruling majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran, over the formation of a new cabinet of national unity.

She last visited Lebanon in July 2006 during the devastating war between Hizbullah and Israel.(AFP-Naharnet)