May 24, 2010 - CNN - Obama to talk security with Lebanon's prime minister

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with President Barack Obama on Monday on his first official visit to Washington.

Washington (CNN) - Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri meets with President Barack Obama on Monday on his first official visit to Washington after assuming office, the White House announced.

The two are expected to talk about a broad range of issues, including regional peace and security.

These are the first face-to-face talks between the two men since the United States moved to put an ambassador back in Syria, a country with which Lebanon has a difficult relationship.

Washington pulled its ambassador from Damascus in 2005, after Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was killed in a huge car bombing, which the United States blamed on Syria.

Syria denied the accusations, but an investigation by a United Nations Special Tribunal found Syrian government involvement.

The 2005 bombing led to massive protests in Lebanon, prompting Syria to withdraw the troops it had kept in Lebanon for decades.

Hariri has also made moves to improve relations with Syria.

The Obama administration wants to renew dialogue with Syria as part of a wider effort for establish regional peace.

It nominated veteran diplomat Robert Ford, an Arabic speaker, to serve as ambassador in February. He has not yet taken up the post.