Naharnet Newsdesk -

U.S. Suspends Aid to Lebanon, Citing Hizbullah, Aoun and Wazzani

U.S.-Lebanese relations have plunged to new lows with the reported suspension of financial aid to Beirut in retaliation for its defiance of Washington's policies toward Hizbullah and advice on issues related to South Lebanon.
In a front-page article, As Safir reported that the State Department decided to suspend $35 million allotted to Lebanon for 2002 in a recent decision that remained unpublicized.

Although the US fiscal year began Oct. 1, 2001, Lebanon still has not received any of its economic and educational allocation, endorsed by Congress.

Congress last week suspended $3 million earmarked for Lebanon's accession to the World Trade Organization, citing dissatisfaction with Beirut's economic policies. Soon thereafter, the State Department decided to indefinitely suspend the entire package, As Safir said.

It listed as the main reasons for the action as:

Beirut's failure to rein in Hizbullah
Refusal to deploy the regular army in the south following Israel's withdrawal
Lebanon's unilateral decision to tap the Wazzani River
Threats to prosecute exiled opposition leader, Gen. Michel Aoun, for meetings with congress behind the Syria Accountability Act.

While Washington has upheld Lebanon's right to exploit water running through its territories, it has been irked by Beirut's failure to notify in advance the United States, the United Nations and the Hasbani River's littoral states of its plans.

Beirut, Updated 02 Oct 02, 13:50