WASHINGTON - US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that he strongly supports Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and blamed Syria for Lebanon’s political crisis, which has fueled fears of civil strife.

"I strongly support Prime Minister Siniora and the March 14th coalition," Bush said as he met with Jordan’s King Abdullah II. "I strongly condemn Syrian interference in the Lebanese political process."

"I am extremely disappointed that the Syrian leader continues to make it hard for the Siniora government to succeed, and I really don’t appreciate the fact that they’ve made it hard for this government to elect a president," said Bush.

The king said Arab countries were aiming to speed the process toward forming a government in Lebanon. "We discussed the role of Arab countries, and how we can be effective in supporting the process in Lebanon, so that as quickly as possible a government is formed," said the king.

Lebanon has been without a president since November amid political feuding between the Western-backed ruling parliamentary majority and the opposition, backed by Syria and Iran.

The majority accuses Syria of blocking efforts to elect a new president in Lebanon, which was under Syrian military domination for 29 years until Damascus withdrew its troops in April 2005.

Fears of wider conflict have mounted since the February 12 killing in Syria of top Hezbollah commander Imad Mughnieh. -AFP