Top Story USA
29
January 2007
Bush accuses Syria, Iran of destabilizing Lebanon
President Bush condemned the recent sectarian violence in Lebanon,
accusing Iran, Syria and Lebanese Hezbollah party were behind
last week's bloody clashes.
"I am deeply disappointed by the recent violence and bloodshed
on the streets of Lebanon," he said in a White House statement
out late last night. “It is all the more troubling that
the violence occurred while Lebanon's legitimate leaders and
friends were gathered together in Paris," Bush said, "to
help secure a peaceful and prosperous future for the country."
Violence took place in Lebanon at the time donor countries were
meeting in Paris in response to the call of the Lebanese government
to offer additional financial assistance for the reconstruction
of Lebanon following last summer's war between Israel and Hezbollah,
which devastated much of the nation's infrastructure. The Paris
III donor conference raised around $7.6 billion dollars in aid
for the country.
Pointing his finger at Syria and Iran, Bush said, "While
Lebanon's friends seek to help the Lebanese government build
a free, sovereign, and prosperous country, Syria, Iran, and
Hezbollah are working to destabilize Lebanese society,"
Bush argued.
He went on to say, "All those who seek a peaceful, constitutional
solution to the crisis in Lebanon deserve the support of the
international community, but those responsible for creating
chaos must be called to account."
Many analysts are of the view that current conflict facing Lebanon
is a part of a greater regional battle for hegemony pitting
the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, his American
and Arab backers against Hezbollah and its Iranian and Syrian
allies.
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