Hizbullah's Al-Manar TV website posted a statement by the organization criticizing the visit to Beirut of U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and commenting on the visits by U.S. officials to the country in advance of Lebanon's parliamentary elections. The following are excerpts:

"The high U.S. interest in Lebanon triggers strong doubts over the reasons behind it... [this suspicious U.S. concern] constitutes explicit meddling in Lebanese affairs, which is obviously reflected in the series of visits paid lately by U.S. administration officials to the country...

"We must not forget that the U.S. administration is putting the Zionist enemy's interests at the top of its priorities, and therefore is exerting pressure on everyone and inducing concessions to achieve its goals... This same administration seems to have completely no concern in the nations' just causes and their rightful requests."

According to the website, Hizbullah concluded its statement by wondering whether Biden or any other U.S. official were really interested in returning the Lebanese occupied lands to the Lebanese authorities.

Source: Almanar.com.lb, May 22, 2009