Beirut  - Former US president Jimmy Carter arrived in Beirut Tuesday on a two-day official visit to discuss the process of the upcoming Lebanese parliamentary elections and the prospects for peace in the Middle East region, a Lebanese government source said.

The Carter Centre said Friday that Carter would lead a pre- electoral assessment mission in Lebanon. The centre is considering observing parliamentary elections scheduled for the spring of 2009.

Carter is due to address Lebanese students, faculty staff and invited guests at the American University of Beirut on December 12.

Carter also plans to visit Syria and meet with President Bashar al- Assad and other officials.

Carter, 84, has written a new book on the Middle East entitled We Can Bring Peace to the Holy Land which will be published in January, just after the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama. (dpa)