Britain Says Hizbullah Offering Support to 'Tyrant' Assad
British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday accused Hizbullah and its main regional ally Iran of supporting the Syrian regime's violent crackdown on the country's uprising.
Cameron told lawmakers in the House of Commons that both were offering backing to Syrian President Bashar Assad.
"Britain needs to lead the way in making sure we tighten the sanctions, the travel bans, the asset freezes, on Syria," Cameron said.
"In terms of who is actually helping the Syrian government to oppress their people, there is now growing evidence that Iran is providing a huge amount of support," he noted.
"People should also know that Hizbullah is also an organization that is standing up and supporting this wretched tyrant who is killing so many of his own people."
Thousands have been killed in Syria's crackdown on the 10-month-old uprising, and Cameron has pledged to press for tougher international sanctions — despite opposition from Russia and China.
Cameron is seeking a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning the violence.
In August, Hizbullah denied a French media report accusing the party of being involved in the killing of Syrian soldiers who had refused to shoot at anti-regime protesters.
“Hizbullah has already released several statements denying the accusations launched by some Syrian dissidents and some other parties about Hizbullah’s involvement in the events taking place in Syria, and its statements had always stressed its keenness on Syria and its leadership, people and institutions and its wishes as to reaching solutions that meet the aspirations of all Syrians regarding reform and stability,” the party said.
“Hizbullah’s response to the claims circulated by these dissidents stems from its keenness on clarifying the picture and preventing the Arab and international public opinion from being misled by some individuals who are seeking to gain the support of the international conspiracy against the forces of resistance and defiance in the region,” it noted.
Source: Associated Press, Naharnet
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