WASHINGTON, Feb 28: Deeply concerned about Lebanon’s political impasse, the United States has sped its USS Cole warship off the country’s coast in a “show of support for regional stability”, a top US official said on Thursday.

The official confirmed the deployment of the guided-missile destroyer, but declined to say that the show of force was meant for Syria or Iran.

Asked whether President George Bush had given the order, White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said: “The president is concerned about the situation in Lebanon and discusses the issue regularly with his national security team.”

AL CALL: The Arab League’s chief said on Thursday Lebanon’s political crisis was becoming more complicated and foreign influence over the struggle between the Beirut governing coalition and Hezbollah-led opposition was unprecedented.—AFP