U.S. Wants New Cabinet in Lebanon Free of Syria Influence
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The United States said Tuesday it backs efforts to form a new governing coalition in Lebanon, after last week's deadly bomb blast in Beirut plunged the country into political crisis.
"We support the efforts of President (Michel) Suleiman and other responsible leaders in Lebanon to build an effective government and to take the necessary next steps in the wake of the October 19th terrorist attack," said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
The car bombing in Beirut killed Internal Security Forces intelligence chief General Wissam al-Hasan, who led a series of probes linking the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad to political assassinations in Lebanon.
Asked specifically if Washington supported a change of government in the country, Nuland said: "President Suleiman is engaged in discussions with all parties to form a new government. We support that process."
"In the interim, we don't want to see a vacuum," she added.
"The export of instability from Syria threatens the security of Lebanon now more than ever, and it's really up to the Lebanese people to choose a government that is going to counter this threat."
Nuland's remarks echoed those of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who on Tuesday also expressed concern about Lebanon's stability.
The bombing has raised fears about unrest in the country, which is divided between supporters and opponents of Assad, whose country supervised its small neighbor for nearly 30 years.
Hasan's murder also has provoked a political crisis, with a Syria-hostile opposition calling for the resignation of the government dominated by the Syrian-backed Hizbullah.
The opposition -- which has blamed Damascus for Hasan's killing -- has announced that its delegates would boycott all meetings with the government of Prime Minister Najib Miqati until he steps down.
Miqati expressed a desire to step down but said Saturday he would stay at the request of Suleiman in the "national interest."
While it supports the opposition, the international community reacted by backing Miqati amid fears of a political void.
On Monday, the ambassadors of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States expressed their "unequivocal condemnation of any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassination".
Also on Monday, the United States said it would send a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to Lebanon to assist in the investigation of Hasan's murder. Nuland said Tuesday the team would be sent "shortly".
24 October 2012, 07:38
72
isn't this too much an open interference in Lebanese affairs? Do we need another Feltman Government?
24 October 2012, 08:01
17
A government that is not two faced, puts national interests first and respects the rule of law would be nice.
24 October 2012, 08:46
13
there goes nothing for mikati and m8 propaganda :)
they were proudly claiming (wrongly) that the west does not want a cabinet change, and the truth comes out loud and clear.
so after they proclaimed the opposite and stating the west does not want a change, what will they say now? west interference is not acceptable? m14 follows instructions from the west?
they make me laugh.
this cabinet needs to go.
24 October 2012, 08:47
23
people-power, why you insult other people? First of all, the Prime Minister withdraw his resignation, came back to office, issued decrees, etc. There is a Government, that, according to Jumblatt is in the best interest of the stability under the uneasy circumstances.
Secondly, the President NEVER said that he wants to form a new Government. He asked Miqati to stay in office and consult around.
Thirdly, the President does not have the power to send home the Government, and does not have a political party by himself. So he is basically saying to Miqati: I like you guy, think it twice, but check if you stil have a majority. Normal stuff in democracy.
In all this, Victoria Nuland (I should say Jeffrey Feltman)says President Suleiman is engaged in discussions with all parties to form a new government. We support that process. it's really up to the Lebanese people to choose a government that is going to counter this threat.
In ANY COUNTRY this would be called INTERFERENCE.
24 October 2012, 11:30
12
First of all, Suleiman asked Mikati to stay TEMPORARILY, until a new government could be formed, not permanently, so that there won't be a vacuum. Who cares what Jumblatt says, he is now in favor of change, wait a day and he will change his mind again.
Secondly, you are not privvy to what the President has said in meetings with foreign ambassadors, so STFU.
Thirdly, if the PM resigns, then that is the end of the government. Mikati was ready to resign, until Suleiman asked him to delay his decision until an agreement is reached on a new government.
Hezbollah members were indicted for killing Rafik Hariri. Evidence also points to their involvement in killing George Hawi, and others. Hezbollah was started by Iran, is funded by Iran, and takes orders from Iran. Do you think they killed Hariri without the decision coming from Iran? Iran and Syria killing M14 politicians and journalists is what I call interference, not verbal consultations of ambassadors.
24 October 2012, 08:47
32
Not to mention the sending of the FBI. Why the FBI? After one week, what can they found? the area is contaminated, hundereds of people live in that street. Besides, what can be the results of the FBI? If they found the fingerprints of the Mossad, they would scrap it away, and this is SURE 200%. Feltman Strikes Back.
24 October 2012, 08:53
23
And Geha, I can ASSURE YOU that until yesterday the western embassies (other than the US one) here were relieved to see Miqati taking his post again, including the UK embassy. The US are stirring up things, and this WILL HAVE AN IMPACT, internationally and within the Lebanese political scene. But this is meddling into internal politics of this poor little land full of dangerous Arabs. Don't think one minute that the Americans care about the Lebanese.
24 October 2012, 09:49
21
Hey Spartacus, The Lebanese government is the one that invited the FBI here. Man up and start pointing the finger at the Lebanese leaders. They are selling Lebanon to the highest bidder. We should all rally around the President as he is trying to hold things together.
24 October 2012, 19:26
00
I, too, want a government free of Syrian influence, especially after raising the new Syrian flag higher than the Lebanese flag over the head of Riad al-Solh by Lebanon First from Last and the March 14 defenders of the borders and from the influx of the filthy Sunni crazies of all nationalities.
24 October 2012, 21:07
01
wasn t that what aoun wanted before he sold himself to syria? he even wanted a syria free from the assad family!
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