BEIRUT, Lebanon - The US pointman for the Middle East, David Welch, was in Beirut on Saturday on what is being billed a visit of support for Lebanon as former powerbroker Syria becomes increasingly isolated by the international community.

Welch is due to hold talks with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora as well as other political leaders but is pointedly not meeting pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud, Lebanese officials said.

Tensions have been rising between Beirut and Damascus, with the regime in Syria under mounting international pressure to cooperate in the UN probe into the February murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

The UN commission of inquiry is seeking to grill Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Faruq al-Shara, but Damascus has yet to formally respond.

Welch, the US assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern Affairs, is accompanied by Elliott Abrams, deputy national security advisor in the administration of President George W. Bush.

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