Lebanon Criticizes FIBA for Moving Tournament

Lebanon's sports minister says the decision of basketball's governing body to strip his country of hosting rights for FIBA Asia Championship because of the conflict in neighboring Syria is "unjustified."

Youth and Sports Minister Faysal Karameh tells The Associated Press that Lebanon is safe and capable of hosting the biannual tournament, saying that "because of the Syria situation, the whole region has been declared unstable."

In a statement Friday, FIBA Asia Secretary General Hagop Khajirian said the fighting in Syria has an "indirect effect on the countries" in the region, especially on Lebanon, creating "doubts about the stability."

The Aug. 1-11 tournament will now take place in Manila.