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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Welch: Hezbollah-led opposition is putting Lebanon in danger |
| 2007-12-19 |
| U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch on Tuesday expressed concern over Presidential void, urging Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to call MPs to elect a new head of state. Welch, talking to reporters following a meeting with parliament majority leader Saad Hariri, said the Hezbollah-led opposition is putting Lebanon in danger. After an unscheduled return to Beirut and talks with Hariri, Welch said parliament has failed to elect a president because of the opposition stand that blocks the move. The international community, according to Welch, is concerned due to the delay in electing a head of state for Lebanon. He stressed that the presidency is an important status for the Christians in Lebanon. The United States, he added, Supports the Lebanese people and urged domestic and foreign parties to back the election of a president. Nine Parliamentary sessions to elect a new president have been postponed. A 10th session is scheduled for Saturday. Welch returned to Beirut one day after Western and Arab nations urged parliament to elect a president with no further delay. "We share deep concern at the prolonged political crisis in Lebanon, we reiterate our call for unconditional Lebanese presidential elections without any further delay," a statement said on Monday. "In this regard, we urge that parliament be allowed to convene immediately to fulfill its constitutional duties," said the statement signed in Paris by representatives of nine nations and the United Nations. The signatories condemned a string of political assassinations that have plagued Lebanon since 2005, and called on unspecified "outside powers" to respect Lebanon's constitution and democratic institutions. "We support the legitimate, democratically elected Lebanese government and the Lebanese armed forces in their efforts to maintain the sovereignty and stability of Lebanon," the statement added. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 Nasrallah is stalling to see if the world political scene changes to his favor again. Two years ago, he was the Arab world's Ramadan superstar and now he's chopped liver. |
| Posted by: Penguin 2007-12-19 08:12 |