U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said Wednesday that Washington was looking forward to the outcome of cabinet formation in Lebanon.
“We very much await the formation of a new government in Lebanon. That’s obviously work for the people and the government of Lebanon to do. And we look forward to the outcome,” she said in response to a question by An Nahar’s reporter during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Also asked about a possible meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama, Rice said: “I’m not able to make any announcements today about a potential meeting related to the Middle East on the margins of the General Assembly.”

Rice also challenged Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to behave himself during his upcoming first-ever U.N. visit.

Rice, speaking as the incoming president of the U.N. Security Council this month, cited broad U.S. anger over Libya’s enthusiastic homecoming for Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Gadhafi is among the world leaders expected to attend the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly and possibly other high-level meetings in late September, including a U.S.-sponsored session on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament to be held by the 15-nation Security Council and chaired by Obama.

Rice also said she was assured by her counterparts at the Libyan U.N. mission “that their intention is to confine their program to New York City.”

Gadhafi had wanted to stay during at Libya’s 2-hectare estate in Englewood, New Jersey, and pitch a ceremonial Bedouin-style tent to entertain guests. He decided to stay in New York amid rising opposition to a visit by Englewood residents and officials.(AP-Naharnet)