BEIRUT: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Jeffrey Feltman said Thursday that Syrian President Bashar Assad has lost legitimacy to lead and the only way to end the nine-month turmoil in Syria is for the embattled president to step down.

Feltman made the announcement as he wrapped up a two-day visit to Lebanon by meeting with Lebanese officials as well as Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai to discuss the political and security situation in Lebanon, the popular revolt against Assad’s 11-year rule and other regional issues.

President Michel Sleiman refused to meet with Feltman, in a tit-for-tat move after U.S. officials declined to meet with the president when he was in Washington in September.

Feltman met with Rai at the Maronite patriarchate’s seat in Bkirki, north of Beirut, and exchanged views on developments in Lebanon and the region.

“As he has done with many others during his visit, Assistant Secretary Feltman discussed with Patriarch Rai the United States’ support for the principle that the universal human rights of all communities and people of all faiths must be protected by their governments,” according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy.

“He also urged the patriarch to support international and regional efforts to end the brutality of the Syrian regime against the Syrian people. He reaffirmed to the patriarch the United States’ firm view that Assad has lost his legitimacy to lead and the best way to end the brutality is for Assad to step down,” the statement said.

Feltman’s call on Assad to step down comes against the backdrop of Arab economic sanctions imposed on Syria last week for refusing to accept an Arab League peace plan to halt a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters demanding Assad’s ouster. The sanctions come on top of punitive measures imposed by the United States and the European Union on Damascus over its military campaign against protesters which, according to the United Nations, has left more than 4,000 people dead since the uprising began in mid-March.

While in Bkirki, Feltman also met briefly with former Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir.

Earlier Thursday, Feltman, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, met with Speaker Nabih Berri at his residence in Ain al-Tineh before holding talks with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt at the latter’s residence in Clemenceau. Feltman did not speak to reporters after the two meetings.

A statement released by the PSP’s media office said Feltman and Jumblatt discussed “the latest political developments in Lebanon and the Arab region in the light of the successive changes.”

Jumblatt underlined “the significance of an internal Lebanese dialogue as the only means to deal with divisive issues and break the current deadlock,” the statement said. It added that Jumblatt also “stressed the need for preserving stability and civil peace away from tension.”

Feltman also met with Army Commander General Jean Kahwagi in Yarze and discussed with him “the means to revive cooperation between the two countries’ armies, especially developing the U.S. aid program to the Lebanese Army,” the state-run National News Agency reported.

The U.S. has provided around $100 million annually in military aid to Lebanon since 2005, although the funds were temporarily put on hold last August. U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton has promised Prime Minister Najib Mikati that the U.S. will continue its assistance to the Lebanese Army.

Feltman also met with Internal Security Forces Director General Major General Ashraf Rifi and former Defense Minister Elias Murr. Feltman and Rifi discussed the U.S. aid and training program for the ISF and also reviewed the security situation in Lebanon, NNA said.

The U.S. official met with Mikati Wednesday.

During his meeting with Lebanese officials, Feltman renewed the United States’ commitment to “a stable, sovereign and independent Lebanon.”

“Assistant Secretary Feltman underscored the U.S. Administration’s support for strengthening Lebanon and Lebanon’s institutions, including the Lebanese Armed Forces, recognizing its importance in serving as Lebanon’s sole legitimate defense force, securing Lebanon’s borders and defending the sovereignty and independence of the state,” the embassy statement said.

There have been repeated incidents of cross-border incursions by the Syrian army into Lebanon during the crackdown on protesters. The incidents have been condemned by the United States. There have also been reports of the smuggling of arms and fighters across the Lebanese border into Syria to aid protesters.

Feltman, who has praised Lebanon’s decision to pay its $32 million share to the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon, “noted the importance of Lebanon’s continued cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and of Lebanon upholding its international obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, the parliamentary Future bloc of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised Mikati’s decision to pay Lebanon’s share to the STL’s budget, saying this step should be followed by the handover of four Hezbollah members indicted in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

“It is a good and positive step that reflected the prime minister’s fulfillment of the March 14 team’s demands and the wishes of the Lebanese people and affirmed Lebanon’s serious commitment to the tribunal and its mission which is aimed at uncovering the truth behind the assassination of [former] Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and his colleagues and achieving justice,” the bloc said in a statement after its weekly meeting chaired by former Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

“The payment of the funding is a step that should be followed by other steps, the most important of which is the handover of the four accused instead of a party participating in the government declaring its rejection of cooperation and announcing the protection of the accused,” the statement said, referring to Hezbollah which rejected the STL’s indictment and vowed never to turn over the four suspects.

In the meantime, Mikati reassured the Lebanese, saying the turmoil in the region, particularly in neighboring Syria, will not have “negative effects” on Lebanon.

Addressing a joint news conference with Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov at the Grand Serail, Mikati said: “I have said repeatedly that Lebanon will not be isolated from the international community. It is interacting with the international community, neighboring states and its Arab environment,” Mikati said.

Asked if the unrest in the region and Syria will affect stability in Lebanon, Mikati said: “I think we have passed through difficult circumstances in the past months. We have proved that we are keen on stability. We will pursue this as the government’s target. Maintaining stability is a basic goal. God willing, I think the situation is stable and there won’t be negative repercussions of the situation in the region on Lebanon.”