U.S. sends warship off coast of Lebanon

Thu Feb 28, 2008

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSWAT00901020080228?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&rpc=22&sp=true

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Signaling impatience with Syria, the United States has sent its USS Cole warship off the coast of Lebanon in a "show of support" for regional stability, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.

The senior official told Reuters the United States was very concerned about the political deadlock in Lebanon, which Washington blames on Syrian meddling. A U.S. defense official said the Cole left Malta on Tuesday and was headed towards Lebanon, adding it would not be within visible range of Lebanon but "well over the horizon."

(Reporting by Sue Pleming and Andrew Gray)