BEIRUT - Lebanese riot police on Saturday used tear gas and water cannon against anti-US demonstrators led by the Shiite militia Hezbollah who were protesting against a visit by a US envoy to Beirut.

About 250 protestors took part in the rally which at one point was forced back by water cannon when demonstrators tried to tear down a barrier set up about 50 metres (yards) from the building where US Middle East pointman David Welch was due for a meeting, an AFP photographer said.

"No to the Visit by Welch" and "No to American Interference" read their banners, as they shouted slogans such as "Death to America" and threw stones at police over the one-day trip to Lebanon by Welch as part of a regional tour.

The clashes were the first between police and pro-Syrian demonstrators since the departure of thousands of Syrian troops from its smaller neighbour in April after a 29-year presence.

Seven police were injured by stones and hospitalised, according to the official Tele-Liban.

The protestors were students and most were members of Hezbollah. According to Hezbollah's Al-Manar television which broadcast the clashes live, 15 demonstrators suffered head injuries.

Welch arrived at the government building under an escort and via a route where dozens of anti-riot police and soldiers had been present, an AFP correspondent saw.

Hezbollah lashed out at the US ambassador in Beirut earlier in the week after he stressed the need for Syria's unconditional cooperation with the probe into the murder of ex-prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

Welch had earlier pledged to protect Lebanon's sovereignty, as former powerbroker Syria -- which backs Hezbollah -- becomes increasingly isolated by the international community.

"We will not support any efforts, any deals or any promises that would trade away the sovereignty of Lebanon in return for something called 'stability' which is in reality foreign interference," Welch said after meeting Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

"I reaffirmed to (Sfeir) the continuity of the commitment of the United States to Lebanon and the people of Lebanon," Welch said. "We, the American people and the American administration, stand solidly with the people of Lebanon."

Welch also held talks with Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and other political leaders but is pointedly not meeting pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud, Lebanese officials said.

After his talks with Siniora, he said he had informed the Lebanese premier of the support of US President George W. Bush for Lebanon's people and government.

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 the five-time premier.

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, was accompanied by Elliott Abrams, deputy national security advisor in the administration of President George W. Bush.

The visit comes after Beirut rejected Syrian proposals to coordinate on security and diplomacy issues which had been transmitted by Saudi Arabia, which the Syrian president visited on Sunday.

Hariri's death sparked popular protests against Syria's domination of Lebanon, leading to the departure of thousands of Syrian troops in April after a 29-year presence.

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