U.S. Vice President Joe Biden reviews honour guards upon his arrival at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut, May 22, 2009. Biden, carrying a message on military aid to Lebanon, arrived in Beirut on Friday, 16 days before a parliamentary election that may see a shift in power from a Western-backed coalition.   (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIRUT, May 22 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Beirut on Friday on the first such high-level visit to Lebanon in nearly three decades, ahead of the Lebanese parliamentary elections on June 7, state news agency reported.

    Biden headed to Babbda Palace to meet President Michel Suleiman, and is expected to meet afterwards during the day with Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.

    The White house said on Friday night that Biden's visit is aimed at "reinforcing the United States' support for an independent and sovereign Lebanon."

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (L) waves as he is welcomed by Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman upon arrival at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut May 22, 2009. Biden, carrying a message on military aid to Lebanon, arrived in Beirut on Friday, 16 days before a parliamentary election that may see a shift in power from a Western-backed coalition.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The visit is expected to last six hours, according to media reports. It comes as a show of support for the Lebanese ruling coalition amidst reports of a good chance for the Hezbollah-led opposition to win the majority seats in parliament, local Naharnet website said.

    Hezbollah lawmaker Hassan Fadlallah said on Friday that Biden's visit to Lebanon is a clear bid by Washington to "meddle" in the country's internal affairs.