U.S. envoy Indyk in Beirut

In another sign of warming Lebanese-U.S. relations, Assistant Secretary of State Martin Indyk traveled to Beirut Wednesday for a brief visit in which he discussed with Lebanese officials Mideast peace and the situation in south Lebanon.

Indyk's visit, part of a regional tour which also took him to Syria, Israel and the Palestinian territories, comes three months after a visit by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright to the country.

However, Indyk said his efforts were more focused on Palestinian-Israeli peace talks on this particular trip, which precedes meetings scheduled for later this week between Albright and both Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu.

"My purpose on this trip is to discuss with the leaders of the region common interests in promoting peace and stability," Indyk said.

The U.S. envoy said achieving a breakthrough in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations was a prerequisite for advancement on all other tracks.

"We feel that at the moment what's important is to get the Palestinian track moving because that will make it easier to resume the negotiations on the other tracks," he said.

Indyk met with Lebanese President Elias Hrawi, House Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Richard Jones, he also met with Army Commander Gen. Emile Lahoud.

Turning to the situation in south Lebanon, Indyk said Israel was in Lebanon for "security reasons" and hoped those reasons would cease to exist in order for Israel to withdraw its troops.

"We would like to see this (conflict) ended and security brought to all sides," he said.

Indyk's visit to Lebanon follows several indications of improved ties between Lebanon and the United States.

In July, Albright lifted a decade-old ban on American travel to Lebanon and visited Beirut herself in September. Recently, President Bill Clinton removed Lebanon and Syria from the list of drug-producing countries, rewarding the Lebanese government for a post-war crackdown on drug cultivation.