Lebanese PM says Syria sending arms across border
PARIS - Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora accused Syria on Wednesday of
sending arms to Palestinian camps in his country and said he would raise the
issue with the Arab League.
Siniora was speaking the day after independent experts handed the U.N.
Security Council a damning report which said Lebanese forces were largely
incapable of preventing arms smuggling from Syria.
The Lebanese prime minister told reporters during a trip to France he had
not had time to read the report, but said it was clear Syria was sending
weapons to two camps.
"In recent weeks these camps have been reinforced with munitions, arms and
fighters," he said, adding that one of the outposts was controlled by the
Fateh al-Intifada group and another by the "Popular Front, General Command."
"Everyone knows that these groups are supported and armed by Syria," he
said, making similar allegations to those leveled earlier this month by the
U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.
"This is something I will talk to the Arab League about," Siniora said.
The team of experts working for the United Nations said that during a
three-week stay in Lebanon they had not heard of any weapons being seized
along the border, despite widespread talk of illegal shipments.
"I haven't had a chance to read this report, but we will look at it today
and we will certainly take a position that is in the interests of Lebanon,"
Siniora said.
Lebanon has been mired for months in a political crisis that pits Siniora's
Western-backed government against opponents led by the pro-Syrian Shi'ite
Hezbollah and Amal factions.
In addition, recent fighting between the Lebanese army and al Qaeda-inspired
militants in north Lebanon has complicated the crisis and sparked the worst
outbreak of internal violence in the country since the end of its civil war
17 years ago.
France wants to host a meeting of Lebanon's various factions next month to
try to resolve the political deadlock. Siniora said only second-tier
officials would attend the meeting and warned against setting too high
expectations.
"I think we should be open minded and not box it in with specific
objectives," he said. -Reuters
sending arms to Palestinian camps in his country and said he would raise the
issue with the Arab League.
Siniora was speaking the day after independent experts handed the U.N.
Security Council a damning report which said Lebanese forces were largely
incapable of preventing arms smuggling from Syria.
The Lebanese prime minister told reporters during a trip to France he had
not had time to read the report, but said it was clear Syria was sending
weapons to two camps.
"In recent weeks these camps have been reinforced with munitions, arms and
fighters," he said, adding that one of the outposts was controlled by the
Fateh al-Intifada group and another by the "Popular Front, General Command."
"Everyone knows that these groups are supported and armed by Syria," he
said, making similar allegations to those leveled earlier this month by the
U.N. Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen.
"This is something I will talk to the Arab League about," Siniora said.
The team of experts working for the United Nations said that during a
three-week stay in Lebanon they had not heard of any weapons being seized
along the border, despite widespread talk of illegal shipments.
"I haven't had a chance to read this report, but we will look at it today
and we will certainly take a position that is in the interests of Lebanon,"
Siniora said.
Lebanon has been mired for months in a political crisis that pits Siniora's
Western-backed government against opponents led by the pro-Syrian Shi'ite
Hezbollah and Amal factions.
In addition, recent fighting between the Lebanese army and al Qaeda-inspired
militants in north Lebanon has complicated the crisis and sparked the worst
outbreak of internal violence in the country since the end of its civil war
17 years ago.
France wants to host a meeting of Lebanon's various factions next month to
try to resolve the political deadlock. Siniora said only second-tier
officials would attend the meeting and warned against setting too high
expectations.
"I think we should be open minded and not box it in with specific
objectives," he said. -Reuters
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