In Lebanon, U.S. hinges aid on elections outcome

(AFP) Biden (L) shakes hands with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman at the Presidential Palace in Baabda. The White House will decide on an aid package to Lebanon based on the outcome of the country's June general elections, US Vice President Joe Biden says. Biden, who is visiting Lebanon ahead of the crucial vote, said Friday that the results of the elections would affect the Obama administration's plan to provide aid to Lebanon. "The US will evaluate the shape of its assistance program based on the composition of the new government and the policies it is advocating," Biden was quoted by AFP as telling reporters after a meeting with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. "I did not come here to back any institution or political party," the US vice president said. He, however, warned the Lebanese people against supporting "the spoilers of peace" -- an allusion to the popular Hezbollah movement. "I urge those who think about standing with the spoilers of peace not to miss this opportunity to walk away," Biden said. Hezbollah has termed Biden's trip as a sign of US meddling in the country's internal affairs. "We call on all Lebanese, regardless of their political views, to rise up against such meddling which represents a flagrant violation of Lebanese sovereignty," a Hezbollah parliamentarian, Hassan Fadlallah, told AFP. The Western-backed March 14 political camp has to face the pro-resistance bloc led by Hezbollah in the June 7 elections.