US Middle East envoy arrives in Lebanon

US special envoy to the Middle East, George Mitchell, has held talks with officials in Beirut. He is on the first leg of a tour aimed at forging peace in the region.

Mitchell met with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday. They discussed the latest political developments in the region, including the peace process in the Middle East.

Before leaving Beirut on Wednesday, the US envoy will also meet with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman. Mitchell's tour will move on to Israel, the Palestinian territories, and Jordan.

It's all part of a push to resume peace talks, which were broken off a year ago in the fallout after the Gaza war.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri (R) shakes hands with George Mitchell, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, during their meeting in Beirut, January 19, 2010. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir