Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Iranian President to Begin Controversial Trip to Lebanon VOA News 12 October 2010 A worker fixes a huge poster of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during preparations for his visit to the southern village of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, 12 Oct 2010 Photo: AP A worker fixes a huge poster of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during preparations for his visit to the southern village of Bint Jbeil, Lebanon, 12 Oct 2010 Political tensions in Lebanon are heating up ahead of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to the country this week. Mr. Ahmadinejad will arrive in Beirut Wednesday for a two-day visit with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Saad Hariri. He will also meet with leaders of the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. The Iranian-backed leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah urged Lebanese to thank Mr. Ahmadinejad for Iran's help in rebuilding the country after a 2006 war with Israel. But Lebanon's Western-backed ruling coalition fears that Mr. Ahmadinejad may be trying to create an Iranian stronghold on the Mediterranean. Nasrallah's pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia is engaged in a bitter political feud over its possible role in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, the father of the current prime minister. The Iranian president's visit will also include a tour of villages that near the border of Lebanon and Israel. Meanwhile, Lebanese officials say they have arrested nine more alleged spies for Israel. Intelligence authorities say the nine arrests were made over the past couple of months and are linked to a suspected Israeli network of spies within Lebanon's borders. Lebanon has accused more than 100 people of espionage since last year, and several have been sentenced to death. Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.. .