With political assassinations continuing in Lebanon, a group of university students criticized the Lebanese government and the army for not taking concrete actions to ensure security and asked the United States government to provide assistance to Lebanon and support its "fight against terror."| That's sure to tighten the Hezbollian turbans... |
Tueni, who was celebrated as "one of the greatest champions of liberty," was scheduled to be one of the panelists and discuss the technical and legal aspects related to freedom of press. His seat was covered with a Lebanese flag and on the panelists' table lay his photograph and a red rose. Feltman, who praised the "vibrancy and the diversity" of the Lebanese media, said that the international community stands ready to support Lebanon. But he added: "It would be inappropriate for the international community to act now without the demand of the Lebanese government." The situation is different than in April when Syrian troops were in Lebanon, he said.
Feltman was answering a question by a student who requested that the U.S. government give the Lebanese "some plans" on how to improve their security system. Asked why Tueni, who had been criticizing the Syrian regime for the past 15 years, was killed now rather than earlier, Feltman said "When you are totally controlling a country, a few voices talking against you do not matter. Now it matters," he said, alluding that the Syrians killed Tueni.