Earlier in the day, the president spoke by phone with Russian President Medvedev, which the White House noted was the 14th direct meeting or phone conversation on the new treaty.

VOA: standard.2010.03.26

The ruling March 14th coalition accuses Syria of being behind the slaying of former Prime Minister Hariri, as well as a number of other top politicians and journalists, who were Syrian opponents.

VOA: standard.2009.04.30

Until now, both the ruling March 14th coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been running neck in neck in opinion polls and analysts were expecting the results of parliamentary elections to be extremely close.

VOA: standard.2009.04.30

But U.S.officials have lately credited Syria with tightening border controls with Iraq and largely refraining from interference in Lebanon's election process, which culminated in this week's victory by the pro-Western "March 14th" coalition.

VOA: standard.2009.06.09

U.S.officials Monday welcomed the Lebanese election outcome as an unambiguous victory for the March 14th movement over the Iranian and Syrian-backed opposition led by Hezbollah, which is listed by the United States as a terrorist organization.

VOA: standard.2009.06.09