BEIRUT, Dec. 16 -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch on Sunday expressed his country's full support to the Lebanese Army.

       Welch visited Lebanese Army Commander Gen. Michel Suleiman and conveyed to him a "message of (U.S.) support for the Lebanese army," the official National News Agency reported.

       The two officials also discussed "cooperation between the U.S. and Lebanese armed forces," the report added without further elaboration.

       The U.S. envoy, who arrived in Beirut on Saturday, has called on Lebanese rival leaders to move swiftly to select a new president for the country.

       He held talks on Saturday with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, Parliament Speaker Berri, Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and some other officials.

       A Lebanese presidential election scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed till Dec. 17, to give rival leaders more time for reaching a deal on electing the Army Chief Gen. Michel Suleiman as the country's new president.

       It is the eighth postponement since Sept. 25, which left the presidency vacant since former President Emile Lahoud stepped down on Nov. 24.

       Lebanese ruling coalition and the opposition have been separated by a wide chasm since six of the latter's ministers resigned from Seniora's government in November last year.