The Free Shiite movement Sheikh Mohammad el Hajj Hassan said a foreign regional power is behind the violence today against the Lebanese army in Lebanon , in reference to Syria which borders the country in the North and East. Hassan declared that the purpose of this violence was to derail the International Tribunal for trying the suspects in the murder of LebanonÂ’s former PM Rafik HaririSyria has been accused of being behind the assassination of Hariri and the other Lebanese leaders , but Syria denied any wrongdoing.
Syria told the UN it will not cooperate with the International Tribunal .
Hassan urged the UN to protect Lebanon from the Syrians by setting up border patrols along the Lebanese-Syrian borders. Hassan offered his full support to the Lebanese army and urged its leader to pursue the terrorists till the end. Hassan also urged the Palestinian leadership to respect the Lebanese sovereignty and independence and urged them to hand over the criminals to the government along with their weapons.