Rice on surprise trip to back Lebanon against Syria

BEIRUT, Feb 23 (Reuters) US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Lebanon today to show support for a government working to shake loose the influence of its former political master Syria.

''The sole purpose of the trip is to express support for the Lebanese people and the Lebanese government as they continue to try to recover fully their sovereignty,'' Rice told reporters as she flew into Lebanon from Saudi Arabia.

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