BEIRUT - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Friday criticized Syria for closing its border to Lebanese trucks, saying it created a "very serious situation" that was strangling cross-frontier trade.
At a news conference with Lebanese prime minister designate Fuad Siniora on an unannounced trip to this Arab country, Rice called for the establishment of good neighbourly relations after the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April.
"But good neighbours don't close their borders to their neighbours," she said.
"It is a very serious situation on the Lebanese border where the Lebanese trade is being strangled."
She called for a free flow of commerce and said: "We would hope that it would be restored very, very soon."
The US chief diplomat reacted prudently to the inclusion of a member of the Shiite Muslim militant group Hezbollah, regarded as a terrorist organization by Washington, in the new Lebanese cabinet.
"There is a process of political reconciliation under way and it's important."
But she pledged Washington's strong cooperation with the Beirut government and said: "I believe that we can support, both through international organizations and through direct support, the economic and political reforms that will be undertaken there."
The Americans have hailed the formation of the first government since Syria's troop withdrawal as a triumph of democracy and has treated delicately the nomination of Hezbollah member Mohammed Fneish as energy minister.
A senior official, who asked not to be named, confirmed the Americans would have nothing to do with Fneish on Rice's lightning trip to Beirut, the first by a US secretary of state in two years.
"We'll see how it goes in the future but I don't expect to be having any relations with the Hezbolli (as said) minister."
For his part, Siniora pledged to undertake a "strong and serious discussion" among Lebanese about implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disarmament of Hezbollah and other militias.
He expressed gratitude for the support of the international community but said Lebanon "will require understanding and patience" as it constructs its new political order.
US expects modest gains from thaw with Syria