By Agencies

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Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah have held talks with Lebanese leaders in Beirut in an effort to quell rising tensions in the country.

Friday's visit marks al-Assad's first trip to Lebanon since Syrian troops were forced to withdraw from the country after the killing of Rafiq al-Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, in 2005.

Rumours about forthcoming indictments from the UN tribunal investigating al-Hariri's death have seen tensions rise in Lebanon, prompting fears of a return to sectarian violence in the country.

Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president, and al-Hariri's son, Saad, the country's prime minister, greeted the king and al-Assad before heading to the Baabda presidential palace for discussions.

Few details about the talks emerged, although al-Assad gave journalists a thumbs-up and said "it was an excellent summit" as he left the palace.

Hezbollah anger

Reports are circulating in Beirut that the UN tribunal is about to indict members of Hezbollah, an armed Shia political movement with close ties to Syria, prompting an angry response from Hassan Nasrallah, the group's leader.

Nasrallah's reaction has raised fears of renewed unrest in Lebanon, where Hezbollah and al-Hariri supporters fought in the streets of Beirut in May 2008, bringing the country to the brink of civil war.

Saad's mainly Sunni Future Movement has close links to Saudi Arabia and backs the UN tribunal's investigation into his father's death.

The visit of the Saudi and Syrian leaders, who arrived on a Saudi aircraft from Damascus, was scheduled to last only three hours.

It will include a lunch to be attended by some 250 officials, among them members of the unity government which includes two Hezbollah ministers.

'Dangers ahead'

Al-Assad's presence in particular is highly significant because Syria is believed by many in Lebanon to have been behind al-Hariri's death.

His killing marked a dramatic souring of relations between the two countries, forcing Syria to end its occupation of Lebanon, despite its repeated denials of involvement.

Ties between Damascus and Beirut have improved in recent years, with the two capitals establishing diplomatic ties in 2008.

Al-Assad's visit to Beirut is seen as further evidence of a diplomatic thaw between the countries at a crucial time.

The Saudi monarch is expected to ask al-Assad to use his influence over Hezbollah to steer the group away from a new confrontation with al-Hariri's supporters. 

Hezbollah has responded positively to the visit.

"The Arab leaders' visit to Lebanon is an opportunity to show Arab unity in the face of this plot which aims to destabilise Lebanon and sow sedition," Hassan Fadlallah, a Hezbollah member of parliament, said.

Regional tensions

Rami Khoury, editor-at-large for Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper, said that the country's internal politics were linked to wider regional tensions.

"We have very old and very strong links between all the major players in Lebanon and huge regional and international actors," he said.

"It's a very complex situation. That's why all the main struggles in the region are evident here in Lebanon."

Shadi Hamid, the deputy director of the Brookings Doha Centre, said that the next fortnight in Lebanon will be "crucial".

"There is a risk of escalation, of sectarian violence, and all players involved realise that risk and are taking pre-emptive action to defuse things before they get out of hand in the next weeks and months," Hamid said.