Delegation of US congressmen in Lebanon

A U.S. delegation of congressmen said Monday there are real opportunities for peace in the Middle East region and affirmed American support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon.

The 18-member delegation of congressmen -- several of them of Lebanese origin -- and U.S. businessmen arrived Sunday evening for the three-day official visit aimed at lobbying for Lebanon's independence and improving bilateral ties between Lebanon and the United States.

The team includes congressmen Donna Baker, Maurice Hinchey, Nick Rahal and Ray Lahoud, who visited Lebanon last April.

The delegation met on Monday with President Elias Hrawi, House Speaker Nabih Berri and Foreign Minister Fares Boueiz. They will also meet with Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanese clerics and a number of cabinet ministers Tuesday before leaving for neighboring Damascus.

U.S.-Lebanese relations have seen improvement in recent months following the lifting by the State Department of a decade-old ban on American travel to Lebanon in July.