BEIRUT, Feb. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived here on Thursday on a surprise visit, official sources said.

    "The sole purpose of this trip is to express support for the Lebanese people and the Lebanese government as they try to recover fully their sovereignty," Rice said after she arrived.

    During her several hours of stay, Rice is scheduled to meet with Lebanon Foreign Minister Fawzi Sallukh, Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir.

    Rice arrived in the Egyptian capital Cairo on Tuesday, the first leg of her five-day regional tour aimed at rallying support of Washington's Arab allies for its policy on Hamas and Iran.

    Rice met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Wednesday before heading to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

    Rice is expected to urge the Arab allies to press Hamas to moderate its stance as Hamas leaders are enlisting support from the Arab and Islamic world to make up a money shortfall in case there is an aid cutoff from Western donors. Enditem