Tehran - Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday told visiting Lebanese President Michel Suleiman that to stand against Israel, Lebanon needed to maintain unity among various groups.

"Iran believes that the strength of all Lebanese groups lies in national unity for effectively confronting the Zionist regime (Israel)," the ayatollah said in his meeting with Suleiman.

Suleiman arrived in Tehran on Monday for a two-day state visit. He is the third Lebanese president to visit Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

Tehran  - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday promised his visiting Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman that Iran would always stand by Lebanon.

"Lebanon has finally found its track after many stormy years and now enjoys tranquillity and security," Ahmadinejad said in his meeting with Suleiman.

According to ISNA news agency, Ahmadinejad further said Lebanese resistance against Israel had turned Lebanon into a symbol of courage in the region.

ISNA quoted Suleiman as saying his country was grateful to Iran for its constant support and hoped the Tehran-Beirut summit would lead to strengthening bilateral ties.

Tehran - Lebanese President Michel Suleiman arrived in Tehran Monday for a two-day state visit and talks with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The two will discuss expanding bilateral ties, the situation in the Middle East and how to approach Israel, reports said.

Suleiman, the third Lebanese president to visit Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, is expected to sign some initial agreements with Iran during his two-day stay.

Beirut - The pro-Iranian Hezbollah movement said Saturday it was not surprised by Germany's decision to ban its al-Manar satellite television, the Lebanese Shiite movement's mouthpiece.

"We were not surprised because it seems Germany is following the footsteps of the US and France," a source at the movement, who requested anonymity, told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa.

Beirut - Lebanon celebrated its 65 years of independence on Saturday with a military parade staged in downtown Beirut amid tight security.

The ceremony was attended by President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and other ministers, MPs and ambassadors.

Streets leading to the Martyr Square location were cordoned off for the ceremony, held for the first time in three years owing to the unrest which has gripped the country.

Beirut  - France is ready to send people to Lebanon to observe or to assist with the upcoming legislative elections planned for May 2009, said visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said on Friday.

"France is ready, if Lebanon wishes, to provide technical support during the elections," Fillon said, speaking in Beirut to a group of French and Lebanese businessmen.

The French official stressed that the assistance could consist of helping organize the polls or providing observers as part of a European Union initiative.