TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Iranian Foreign Minister KamalKharrazi on Saturday accused the United States of creating crisisin Lebanon, saying the Lebanese themselves should solve the country's problems, the official IRNA news agency reported."The Americans are trying to create crisis in Lebanon and takeadvantage of critical situation there, while Lebanon's problems should be solved by its own people," Kharrazi was quoted as sayingin a meeting with leader of the Lebanon Socialist Progressive Party Walid Joumblatt.

    Kharrazi expressed Iran's support for Lebanon's national unityand concord among different ethnic groups.

    "We always support unity among Lebanese groups and will continue this policy," Kharrazi said.

    Joumblatt, for his part, elaborated on the Lebanese situation,saying "we must consider Lebanon's developments carefully in order not to be caught in colonial nets."

    Joumblatt also highly evaluated Iran's role in the Middle East,terming it as "effective and positive".

    "Iran has always had an effective and positive role in regionaland international dialogue and we hope that the consultations withIslamic Republic of Iran leads to constructive outcome," he said.The situation in Lebanon has come to the light since formerPrime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14 in amassive bombing attack.

    Under mounting international pressure, especially that ofWashington, Syria, a major power broker in Lebanon since its forcesintervened in Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war, has withdrawn part ofits 14,000 forces.

    Iran, a Shiite-dominated Islamic nation, is known to have closeties with the Shiite Hezbollah based in Lebanon. Enditem