Ahmadinejad says Iran supports Lebanon's unity
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that his country supported Lebanon's unity, after Lebanese political factions described his controversial visit as provocative.
"We support a united, developed and strong Lebanon," Ahmadinejad said at a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Suleiman.
The Lebanese were capable of "running their country on their own," he said while saluting the struggle of the Lebanese people in face of Israeli occupation and violations.
Meanwhile, Suleiman said the two countries have inked several agreements in the fields of trade, energy, agriculture, environment and education.
Iran said earlier that it is ready to equip the Lebanese Army, but no agreements on military cooperation were announced on Wednesday.
Ahmadinejad, who is on his first to Lebanon since he took office, was heavily criticized by the United States and Israel, who said last week his visit undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. Lebanese groups from the Western-backed March 14 Alliance also described the visit as provocative.
The Iranian president is expected to deliver a speech on Wednesday evening during a rally in Beirut's southern suburb Dahiyeh, a stronghold of Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
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