March 14 Slams Anti-Islam Film: Iranian Revolutionary Guard Remarks Violate Lebanese Sovereignty

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday the anti-Islam film that mocks the Prophet Mohammed, saying its broadcast is aimed at placing Muslims in a “violent” confrontation with the West.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The real confrontation should not be directed against western people or governments, but with a handful of saboteurs seeking to tarnish the image of the Arab Spring and the promising future of the people of the region.”

In addition, it noted that Hizbullah's calls to stage rallies in protest against the film “is an attempt to divert attention away from the crimes of the Syrian regime.”

“A person cannot defend human dignity over such an offense, while simultaneously defend Syrian President Bashar Assad's regime that is violating human dignity at every moment,” it continued.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had called for a series of rallies throughout the week in order to protest the anti-Islam film that sparked outrage across the Muslim world.

Commenting on Iranian Revolutionary Guards head Mohammed Ali Jaafari's recent remarks that members of its elite Quds Force are present in Lebanon and Syria, it said: “They are a blatant violation of Lebanon's sovereignty.”

The March 14 General Secretariat praised President Michel Suleiman for his summoning on Monday of the Iranian ambassador to request an official clarification of the remarks, demanding that the government take action on the international scene to bolster Lebanon's independence and sovereignty.

It also slammed Syria's repeated violations of Lebanon's border, saying: “We have paid a heavy price to eliminate foreign influence over Lebanon and Iran today announced its violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and independence.”

“The Lebanese people have strived to drive Israel out of Lebanon and they have long strived to eliminate Syrian hegemony. Today we are obligated to strive to eliminate Iran's arms,” it declared.

“The Lebanese state alone is obligated to defend the country. According to the constitution, there can be no room for any internal or regional group to share this responsibility,” noted the March 14 General Secretariat.

Jaafari revealed on Sunday that members of the Quds Force were present in Lebanon and Syria, where they are playing a “counselor” role.

He denied that they are providing the countries with military assistance.

On Monday however, the Iranian Foreign Ministry denied the claims, saying they were taken out of context.