Moscow would not allow any foreign power to intervene in Lebanon's affairs, a ranking official at the Russian foreign ministry was quoted Friday as saying.

The Mustaqbal newspaper said the source made the remark in answering a question about significance of the deployment of Syrian troops off Lebanon's northern borders and charges by Syrian President Bashar Assad that north Lebanon poses a threat to his country's national security.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Sultanov discussed with Iran's ambassador to Moscow Middle East developments and the situation in Lebanon.

The report said Sultanov "emphasized to the Iranian ambassador on the need to provide full and multi-sided backing for Lebanon's stability and to refrain from intervening in Lebanon's affairs."