Ahmadinejad given hero's welcome in Lebanon

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has begun a controversial two-day visit to Lebanon.

Thousands of Lebanese Shia Muslims gave the Iranian leader a rapturous reception, lining roads and flying the Iranian flag as he drove through the capital Beirut.

Mr Ahmadinejad's visit has raised concerns in Washington, which wants to isolate Iran over its nuclear programme and says Iran's support for the Islamic militant group Hezbollah undermines Lebanon's sovereignty.

The visit has also alarmed pro-Western politicians in Lebanon's unity government, which includes Hezbollah ministers. The government is already deeply split over an international investigation into the killing of former premier

Rafik Hariri which is expected to indict Hezbollah members. Lebanon's largest parliamentary bloc, led by Hariri's son, has condemned Ahmadinejad for treating their country as "an Iranian base on the Mediterranean".

But most Shia are grateful for Iranian support for Hezbollah, which fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006, and for reconstruction projects since then.

Mr Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map, is expected to visit southern Lebanese towns near Israel which were heavily bombed in the 2006 conflict.