United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon meets Lebanese trade minister Nicolas Nahhas in Beirut.<br/> The secretary general is in Lebanon for talks on a number of sensitive issues - including attacks on UN peacekeepers in the south and the revolt in neighbouring Syria.<br/> Also on the agenda: the UN-backed tribunal that indicted Hezbollah men over the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.<br/> Unsurprisingly, his arrival has not been welcomed in all quarters - with Palestinian, pro-Syrian and Lebanese activists, including Hezbollah officials, gathering to protest.<br/> This pro-Syrian general, Mustafa Hamdan, accuses the UN chief of arriving to campaign against Syria.<br/> He says Ban has come to the wrong place at the wrong time.<br/> Meanwhile Hezbollah officials, who are refusing UN calls to disarm and have denied involvement in the Hariri killing, called on Ban to be independent.<br/> (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEZBOLLAH OFFICIAL MAHMOUD QOUMATI, SAYING:<br/> "We came to emphasize to the Secretary General that our people call on him to be independent and free from U.S. pressure and control."<br/> The UN chief will decide soon whether to extend the UN-backed tribunal's mandate over the Hariri killing, which expires in March.<br/> Sunita Rappai, Reuters
