American threats to Syria on investigation cooperation
Syria-Lebanon-USA, Politics, 1/16/2006

During his visit to Lebanon, the US under secretary of state David Welsh threatened to bring the Rafiq al-Hariri investigation case to the UN Security Council in order to take more measures if case Damascus will not be collaborate to this end.

Following his meeting with the Maronite patriarch Nasrullah Butrous Sfeir, Welsh said that the administration of the US President George W. Bush will not finalize any deal to bargain with Syria over "Lebanon's sovereignty for promises of restoring back stability to this country."

He considered that finalizing an agreement of this sort will be "a foreign intervention" in the Lebanese affairs. He stressed the US strong support to the Lebanese people and government.

Some 200 young Lebanese representing 17 political organizations including the Baath party, the Syrian National Socialist Party, the Hizbullah Party and the Amal Movement organized a demonstration against what they called the American intervention in Lebanon's affairs. The police intercepted the demonstrators who gathered near the headquarters of the prime minister- by water pipes and tear gas.

Lebanese will not allow any foreign custody on Lebanon or using country as a passageway for conspiring against Syria, Hizbullah Deputy Secretary General said Sunday.

In a statement, Sheikh Naiim Qassem underlined Lebanon's right to resist the occupation and reject any foreign domination on Lebanon as well as preserve its fraternal ties with Syria.

The Hizbullah official condemned the flagrant aggression against Lebanese students who staged a sit-in at the Lebanese Prime Ministry on Saturday to protest against a visit by US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs David Welch to Lebanon.

"He wants to make Lebanon a passageway for conspiring against Syria and destabilize the national accord in Lebanon to pave the way for US intervention in Lebanon as well as work hard to implement UN resolution 1559 with its all consequences which are in the interest of Israel," Qassem said.

Damascus has strongly criticized statements by Welsh and said that the aim of these statements is to escalate pressure on Damascus.

A statement at the Syrian official News Agency SANA said that Welsh's statements are but "a new desperate attempt to raise the morale of forces and figures who stand against stability in Lebanon, opponents to Syria."

Previous Stories:
  Rice continues threats against Syria   (1/12/2006)
  Washington Post: Jumblat calls US to do in Syria what it did in Iraq   (1/6/2006)
  Rice vows continued pressure on Syria   (1/6/2006)

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