1. Exterior of Ein El-Tineh Palace

2. Wide of meeting between Nabih Berri, Lebanese Parliament Speaker; David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs; and U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman

3. Mid of Berri

4. Mid of Welch

5. Wide of meeting

6. Exterior of Lebanese prime minister's office

7. Wide of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora meeting Welch and Feltman

8. Mid of meeting with Saniora

9. Mid of Welch

10. Mid of Saniora

11. Wide of meeting

12. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"The future of Lebanon is not something that is negotiable against other interests the U.S. may have in in the area, this won't happen."

13. Cutaway to close up of hands

14. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"Perhaps some outside of Lebanon are concerned about the tribunal because they may be worried that one day they may be held accountable and responsible. Of course, that is normal in any process of justice."

15. Cutaway flag

16. SOUNDBITE: (English) David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs:

"We do not understand what is the purpose of the Hezbollah party having weapons. Precisely what is it they intend to use these weapons for? A conclusion that many have is that they want to be able to intimidate their way into politics. That is the wrong basis for political dialogue and result."

17. U.S. seal on wall

18. Welch heading to meet General Michele Aoun

19. Welch shaking hands with Aoun

20. Various of meeting with Aoun

A senior U.S. official pledged on Wednesday that the United States will not use Lebanon as a bargaining tool - an attempt to allay fears that Washington's recent talks with Syria and Iran could weaken American resolve here.

David Welch, assistant U.S. secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, also said he expects the U.N. Security Council will establish an international tribunal in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

He dismissed fears that creating the court, which is at the core of the political crisis here, without Lebanon's parliamentary approval could lead to violence despite Hezbollah's rejection of such a course.

Welch stressed that the U.S. will not abandon Lebanon.

Welch met on Wednesday with senior Lebanese figures, including the parliament speaker Nabih Berri, and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

There have been concerns that recent American contacts with Syria and Iran over Iraq could result in a softening of U.S. support for the Lebanese government, which is facing an incessant campaign by the opposition led by Hezbollah, a Syria and Iran ally, to topple it.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Welch said the United States would not bargain over Lebanon.

"The future of Lebanon is not something that is negotiable against other interests the U.S. may have in the area, this won't happen," said Welsh, in an interview at the heavily fortified U.S.

Embassy compound in Beirut.

Welch's two-day visit to Lebanon comes amid a political impasse over the Hariri tribunal.

Commenting on the tribunal, Welch said: "Perhaps some outside of Lebanon are concerned about the tribunal because they may be worried that one day they may be held accountable and responsible. Of course, that is normal in any process of justice."

In addition to meeting the prime minister, Welch met with others including some opposition leaders - except Hezbollah.

He did not meet with President Emile Lahoud, a staunch Syria ally.

Welch did meet General Michele Aoun, a Christian leader and the main ally for Hezbollah, and the two discussed presidential elections and the political situation in Lebanon.

Hezbollah's 11 lawmakers slammed the visit, accusing Welch of "flagrant interference ... and provocative, subversive positions" that would complicate the crisis.

Speaking to AP Television, Welch questioned why Hezbollah wanted to possess weapons.

"Precisely what is it they intend to use these weapons for? A conclusion that many have is that they want to be able to intimidate their way into politics. That is the wrong basis for political dialogue and result," he said.

Hezbollah has said the real goal of American policy in Lebanon is to disarm the Shiite Muslim militant group, whose guerrillas fought Israeli forces in last year's summer war and lobbed thousands of rockets into northern Israel.

A U.N. resolution also calls for disarming militias, and Welch said disarming Hezbollah was a matter for the Lebanese to solve.