Mitchell takes Obama's message to Lebanon in wake of Hezbollah's defeat

Beirut: President Barack Obama's special Mideast envoy is pressing on with US efforts to reach Israeli-Palestinian peace in meetings with Lebanese officials in Beirut.

George Mitchell is the first high-ranking US official to visit Lebanon since the pro-Western coalition defeated the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group in Sunday's parliament elections.

Hezbollah's loss removed one potential obstacle to Obama's Mideast peace efforts.

Mitchell's visit Friday is the latest stop on a regional tour that will also include Syria.

Washington has been pushing all Mideast sides to increase efforts to achieve a "comprehensive peace."

But Arab countries have been reluctant to take additional steps without first getting concessions from Israel.