Obama telephones Sleiman to reiterate America's support

US President Barack Obama reiterated the United States' support to Lebanon's independence and sovereignty during a phone conversation with President Michel Sleiman on Thursday.

A Presidential Palace statement said that Obama thanked Sleiman for congratulating him upon his election and vowed that the US would maintain its support for Lebanon.

"The US also values your efforts to achieve political and economic stability in Lebanon," Obama was quoted as telling Sleiman. The US president also told his Lebanese counterpart that the US was in process of reviewing its policy in the Middle East, especially in Syria.

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Livni eyes Prime Minister's office after bagging Kadima leadership

Fresh from her election as the head of Israel's ruling Kadima party,Tzipi Livni on Thursday set out to become the country's second woman prime minister and avert snap elections that could stall Middle East peacemaking.

In her victory speech, the foreign minister said she wanted to form a new government as quickly as possible, a daunting challenge for the new leader of a party dogged by corruption scandals and involved in uneasy alliances with groups that include religious fanatics and advocates of ethnic cleansing.

Livni, 50, narrowly won Wednesday's party leadership vote to replace scandal-plagued Premier Ehud Olmert, who is standing down to battle a number of corruption allegations.

Livni secured 43 percent of the vote and a lead of just one percentage point – or 431 votes – over her main rival,Transport Minister and hawkish former military Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz.

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