U.S. urges Iran, Syria to stop support for Hezbollah

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - The White House said on Friday it was "very troubled" by Hezbollah's actions in Beirut, where its fighters routed forces loyal to Lebanon's government, and urged Iran and Syria to halt support for the Lebanese militant group.

"We have confidence in the government of Lebanon," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters after Hezbollah took control of the Muslim half of Beirut, tightening its grip in a major blow to U.S.-backed Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

"We are very troubled by the recent actions of Hezbollah," he said in Crawford, Texas, where U.S. President George W. Bush was at his ranch preparing for his daughter's wedding.

Johndroe said the United States called on Hezbollah to "stop their attempt to defy the lawful decisions taken by the democratically elected Lebanese government."

"We also urge Iran and Syria to stop their support of Hezbollah and its destabilizing effect on the government of Lebanon," he said. Bush has led international campaigns aimed at diplomatically isolating Tehran and Damascus.

"The United States stands firmly with the Lebanese government and the people of Lebanon," Johndroe said.

Bush is due to meet Siniora on May 18 at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh at the end of a week-long visit to the Middle East.

Johndroe said the talks were expected to go ahead at this point but that U.S. officials would understand if Siniora decided to stay in Lebanon to deal with the situation there.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice telephoned leaders in the region about the events in Lebanon, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters in Washington.