US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice left Kuala Lumpur early this morning for Lebanon for talks with the warring countries.

Rice is in Malaysia to attend talks with ministers at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Regional Forum.

Earlier yesterday, her aides had indicated she could cut short her Asian trip to head back to the Middle East or Europe.

But it appeared that Rice's plans were awaiting the result of US negotiators she left behind in the region when she flew to Asia.

State Department spokesman Adam Ereli said: "Diplomacy is an iterative process. This is not something that is set in stone at the beginning and follows a pre-written script."

Humanitarian aid

In Washington, US President George W Bush said Rice would visit Lebanon on Saturday (today).

Backing an international force to return peace in Lebanon, Bush said Rice will return to the region, and work with the leaders of Israel and Lebanon to achieve lasting peace and stability for both countries.

In a joint press conference with visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush however, sidestepped a question on the composition of the international force not wanting to get on record now whether the United States would be a contributor nation.

"Our top priorities in Lebanon are providing immediate humanitarian relief, achieving an end to the violence, ensuring the return of displaced persons and assisting with reconstruction.

"We recognize that many Lebanese people have lost their homes, so we'll help rebuild the civilian infrastructure that will allow them to return home safely," he said.

He said next week, the UN Security Council will meet as well, and the goal is to seek a resolution from a clear framework for cessation of hostilities on an urgent basis, and mandating the multinational force.

Bush also gave an impression that Rice will not be travelling to Damascus or meeting with any Syrian leaders in any formal sense.