Lebanese information minister denies claims on al-Qaida's existence in Lebanon

The Lebanese minister of information Ghazi al-Areidi has denied what was reported by the US ABC TV station that there is an organization for al-Qaida organization in Lebanon.

In a statement to the London- based al-Sharq al-Awsat daily issued on Wednesday al-Areidi stressed there is no al-Qaida organization in Lebanon and that the only criterion in Lebanon is to reject the Israeli terrorism, challenge it and confirm cohesion with Syria.

The Lebanese minister added that what was stated by ABC is just suspicious and falls in the context of the fabricated campaign against Lebanon and Syria.

Al-Areidi added that this news by the ABC complies with the recent American intention and the decisions taken against Arab students, placing them under monitoring and preventing them from pursuing certain branches of studies in the USA. A matter which is considered a racist decision in the full meaning of the word.