Iranian FM postpones Lebanon visit

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi postponed a visit to Beirut in a bid to attend the funeral ceremony of Saudi Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdel-Aziz on Wednesday.Sources in Lebanon said Ali Akbar Salehi adjourned his visit to Lebanon until after he returns from Saudi Arabia where he is expected to attend the funeral of the Saudi Crown Prince. Speaking to the state-run National News Agency, Lebanon's Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour confirmed that Salehi's two-day trip to Beirut had been postponed rather than canceled, attributing the development to "urgent engagements" the Daily Star said in a report. Salehi was due to meet with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Mansour during his visit to Lebanon Monday and Tuesday. The Iranian Embassy in Beirut said the trip was cancelled due to the absence of Sleiman and Mikati from the country. Sleiman and Mikati are traveling to Saudi Arabia this week to offer condolences over the death of the Saudi Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz al-Saud. A Lebanese official told the Daily Star that Salehi had postponed his trip because he will be among the Iranian delegation which is to attend the funeral of the late crown prince.