US expects Lebanese Cabinet in 'coming days'

Washington: The US hopes that Lebanon's political factions will agree on a Cabinet "in the coming days" and looks forward to working with the new government, a top US diplomat said on Wednesday.

"Expectations are currently high that a Cabinet could be announced within the coming days. We certainly hope this is the case," said Jeffrey Feltman, acting US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern affairs.

The US wants to move beyond dialogue to a more constructive relationship with Syria, he said.

Feltman said while recent trips to Syria by himself and US special envoy George Mitchell had laid the groundwork, "we believe that there is further potential for a positive, constructive US-Syrian relationship".

But for its potential to be realized, Syria must address US concerns about some of its regional policies, such as its support for "terrorist" organisations like the Lebanese movement Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas and its control of foreign fighters trying to enter Iraq, Feltman told US lawmakers.

"Our dialogue with the Syrians is not going to come at the expense of Lebanon's sovereignty," he added in testimony to a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee.

Potential for setbacks

Lebanon held a parliamentary election in June, when voters endorsed the US-backed anti-Syrian coalition led by Sa'ad Hariri, son of assassinated statesman Rafik Hariri. But the failure to form a new government since then has underlined the potential for setbacks in its fragile politics.

Syria dominated Lebanon until the killing of Rafik Hariri in 2005, which led to the withdrawal of its troops from the country. Damascus still holds great sway through allies such as Hezbollah, a heavily armed Lebanese Shiite group which also has strong Iranian backing.

The administration of US President Barack Obama started talks with Syria soon after he was inaugurated in January, ending a boycott of several years under his predecessor George W. Bush.

During a trip to Syria in May, Feltman told the Syrian government the United States was committed to seeking a peace deal between Syria and Israel, a main objective for Damascus in its rapprochement with Washington.