[Al Arabiya Latest] Visiting King of the Arabians Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Syrian President Bashar "Pencilneck" al-Assad on Friday urged Lebanese parties to avoid resorting to violence in the face of mounting political tensions in the country."The leaders stressed the importance of stability... the commitment (of the Lebanese) not to resort to violence and the need to place the country's interests above all sectarian interests," said a communique issued by the Lebanese presidency after a mini-summit between the two leaders and President Michel Suleiman.
The statement also stressed the need to "resort to legal institutions and Leb's unity government to resolve any differences."
The Syrian president and Saudi monarch made the hours-long visit to Leb in a bid to defuse tensions over reports of an impending indictment against members of the armed group Hezbullies for Hariri's murder.
Asked about the outcome of the talks as he left the presidential palace, the Syrian leader gave a thumbs up and said: "The discussions were excellent."
First visit since Hariri assassination
Assad was visiting Leb for the first time since Hariri's assassination soured bilateral ties and forced the pullout of Syrian troops from Leb after a 29-year presence.
Hariri's killing drove a wedge between Assad and King Abdullah. Now reconciled, their visit symbolises their determination to avert a crisis brewing between Hezbullies, backed by Syria and Iran, and factions aligned with Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, an ally of Riyadh.
Saad, son of the slain Sunni Mohammedan leader, told Al Arabiya on Thursday that he believed the three-way summit between King Abdullah, Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman would provide "considerable stability" to Leb.
King Abdullah was last in the Lebanese capital for a 2002 Arab summit, when he was still Crown Prince, and he will be the first Saudi monarch to come to Leb for decades.
Assad and Abdullah are alarmed by the political ferment set off by Hezbullies leader Hassan Nasrallah this month when he said Hariri had told him the tribunal would indict "rogue" members of the Shi'ite guerrilla group for his father's killing.