Washington, March 7, SPA -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called for holding "free and fair" presidential elections in Lebanon during a meeting with Druze leader Walid Jumblatt on Monday, the State Department said. Rice noted that "the Lebanese people have accomplished much over the past year. They've compelled Syrian troops to withdraw from Lebanon, and they've held free and fair parliamentary elections," spokesman Tom Casey told reporters. However, there remain "other issues that need to be taken up," Casey said. "That includes free and fair presidential elections, as called for in Security Council Resolution 1559." The U.N. resolution demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and also requires other steps, including a presidential vote and the disarming of militias. Rice assured Jumblatt of U.S. backing for the Lebanese government and the need for Syrian compliance with U.N. resolutions, Casey said. "Part of the purpose of this meeting was to assure Mr. Jumblatt of ongoing U.S. support for the path of democracy and reform that's been enunciated by the Lebanese government," he said.--SPA 13 25 Local Time 10 25 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/337299