BEIRUT: Vice President Joe Biden, the most senior U.S. official to visit Lebanon in 26 years, met President Michel Suleiman on Friday, 16 days before an election that may shift power away from a Western-backed coalition.

Lebanese vote on June 7 in a poll that pits an alliance including Hezbollah.

Hezbollah criticised Biden’s visit, which followed one by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in April, as meddling in Lebanon, and denounced U.S. support for its arch-foe Israel.

“The high American interest in Lebanon raises strong suspicion as to the real reason behind it, especially since it has become a clear and detailed intervention in Lebanese affairs,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

Biden, who visited Serbia and Kosovo earlier this week, was also due to meet Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri before joining Defence Minister Eliasal-Murr for an announcement on U.S. military aid to Lebanon.