Naharnet

Qassem Slams Opposition, Says Cabinet Will Not Collapse

Hizbullah deputy Chief Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Saturday that the cabinet will not collapse despite everything, the National News Agency reported.

“March 14 is struggling with its political options and their approach to developments in Lebanon and Syria,” Qassem said.

He slammed the March 14-led opposition saying: “Isn’t it time for the opposition to review their approach and rectify its options?”

Qassem noted that the March 14 forces expected the regime in Syria would collapse but they failed in their approach.

He also lashed out at U.S. ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly, stressing: “Lebanon will not follow the U.S. administration’s orders… Lebanon is capable of taking its own decisions.”

Connelly urged Lebanese authorities on Tuesday to provide the humanitarian needs of all Syrian refugees, including dissenters and deserters of the Free Syrian Army.

“We refuse setting up refugee camps in Lebanon for the Syrians entering the country, because it will turn into a military base against Syria and against Lebanon eventually,” Qassem noted.

According to the U.N. refugee agency, about 2,000 people have fled to Lebanon in recent days, many from Homs and particularly its opposition stronghold of Baba Amr.

A large number have sought refuge in the Bekaa region with family members already living there.

Others headed from the Bekaa further north to the coastal Lebanese town of Tripoli or to the Wadi Khaled area, where the majority of the 7,058 Syrians registered in Lebanon as refugees are living.

Qassem reiterated that the resistance is “doing great” and ready to confront the Israeli threats.

“If it wasn’t for the resistance’s readiness, Israel would’ve occupied Lebanon again a long time ago,” the Hizbullah official said.


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