Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was given a warm welcome in Lebanon today despite fears that his visit will aggravate domestic tensions in the politically divided country by boosting the militant Shia group Hezbollah, which is supported by Tehran.

Thousands of Hezbollah supporters cheered Iran's president and waved Iranian flags as he spoke, partly in Arabic, at a mass rally in a football stadium in Beirut's Shia southern suburbs this evening. "Lebanon is the school of resistance and steadfastness against all the bullying forces in the world," he told the crowd.

Earlier, Ahmadinejad was showered with rice and flowers - a traditional greeting - by crowds lining the highway from the airport as he defied security fears and stood to wave through the roof of his car.