Syrian president Bashar al-Assad sent a letter to the U.N. protesting a previous letter sent by Lebanon's premier, accusing Fouad Siniora's government of an alliance with Israel. Syria says it is ready to open diplomatic ties with neighboring Lebanon once the current government of Prime Minister Siniora has been replaced by a "more friendly administration".
Syria expressed its hard line stand on Lebanon in a letter to U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on the eve of a visit to Beirut by the foreign ministers of France, Spain and Italy to help guarantee the forthcoming election of a successor to Syrian-backed President Emile Lahoud.
"The question of establishing diplomatic relations and demarcating the border can be settled by mutual agreement between the Syrian government and a Lebanese government which does not act as an enemy of Syria."
Syria said it was responding to a letter sent by Siniora to Ban and Arab League chief Amr Mussa earlier this month in which he sought their help in halting what he said was the flow of illegal arms into the country from Syria.
"Lebanon requests the help of the Arab League and the United Nations to preserve its independence and stability and to protect it from domestic and foreign dangers," the Lebanese premier said.
Siniora's letter accused Syria of supporting Fatah al-Islam, based on evidence and testimonies by captured terrorists during the 106-day confrontation with the Lebanese Army.
Syria retorted that Siniora's letter was "full of lies" and accused him of "taking up accusations made by his supporter Israel".
The letter criticised those Lebanese leaders "who use visits to the United Nations to damage the reputation of Syria and inflame the Security Council against it."
That was an allusion to anti-Syrian parliamentary leader Saad Hariri and his close ally Druze leader Walid Jumblatt who have both travelled to New York in recent months.