Bush: U.S. expects independent Lebanon

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush met with his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman here Thursday, pledging to support Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.

"We're most impressed by the national dialogue that you're holding in an attempt to seek reconciliation.... Our mission is your mission: A country that is strong, and capable, and a country where people can live in peace," Bush told reporters after talks with Sleiman at the White House.

In response, Sleiman showed appreciation of American support for Lebanon. He also vowed to build "a prosperous Lebanon, a democratic Lebanon."

"We are also here to reaffirm the need to liberate all Lebanese territories; and also to make it very clear that the future of Palestinian refugees is in their homeland, not in Lebanon," he said.

It was reported that some 400,000 Palestinian refugees are living in 12 camps in Lebanon.

Suleiman was elected the Lebanese president in May. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, in mid-June.