US official in Beirut for support mission

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns arrived in Beirut on Sunday to show its support for Lebanon as the region remains a global hotspot, local media reported. "The U.S. administration is highly concerned with the situation in Lebanon, and the visit of Burns comes in the context of reiterating the U.S. position of supporting a stable and independent Lebanon," Almustaqbal daily reported, quoting sources. Burns was expected on Thursday and Friday to meet with Lebanese leaders and several opposition figures, but postponed the trip for accompanying Secretary of State John Kerry, who was visiting Jerusalem and Amman in a bid to revive the long-stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. Burns said that the United States is committed to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces in confronting the challenges they are facing.