Bush says Iran and Syria must end interference in Lebanon

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (Reuters) - President George W. Bush said on Wednesday Syria and Iran must end interference in Lebanese politics, and called for nations in the region to support Lebanon's Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

"We agreed it's important for nations in this region to support Prime Minister Siniora," Bush said in a joint appearance with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as the U.S. president wrapped up a regional tour.

A political conflict pitting Siniora's Western-backed governing coalition against opposition led by Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, has paralyzed government for more than a year.

"It's important to encourage the holding of immediate and unconditional presidential elections according to the Lebanese constitution. And to make it clear to Syria, Iran and their allies they must end their interference and efforts to undermine the process."

Lebanon postponed its election of a president, voted on by parliament, for the 12th time last week despite efforts by the Arab League to end the crisis, which has left Lebanon with no head of state for the first time since the 1975-90 civil war.

Bush said last month that if a deadlock between the pro-Western governing grouping known as the March 14 coalition and pro-Syrian groups cannot be resolved, then the coalition should prevail.

A car bomb damaged a U.S. diplomatic car in Beirut on Tuesday, killing at least three people. No Americans died in the blast, the U.S. State Department said.

Members of the U.S.-backed governing coalition, who have blamed Damascus for previous attacks, condemned the bombing but did not name any suspects.

Lebanon has seen more than 30 explosions in the past three years, many hitting anti-Syrian politicians and journalists.

Syria has denied longstanding U.S. accusations that it is interfering in neighboring Lebanon and trying to undermine its government. Damascus withdrew its forces from Lebanon in 2005 after a 29-year military presence.

(Reporting by Tabassum Zakaria and Matt Spetalnick; Writing by Will Rasmussen, Editing by Matthew Jones)