Despite its name a Christian party allied with Hizbullah, neither free nor particularly patriotic...
leader MP
Michel Aoun...a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hizbullah...
on Monday denied accusations by Syrian rebels that the FPM has sent fighters to protect Christian places of worship in Syria, saying the claims might be a prelude to a "hostile act" against him.
"I was surprised by the claims and I would've done that publicly if I had the intention," Aoun said during an interview with MTV, stressing that he does not have a "militia."
"Are they plotting a hostile act against me? Maybe that is their intention and I have read their remarks carefully," Aoun added.
Earlier on Monday, Fahd al-Masri, a front man for the rebel Free Syrian Army, accused Aoun of "sending groups of his supporters to fight in Syria under the pretext of defending some churches and monasteries in several Syrian regions."
Masri also claimed that Hizbullah was providing the alleged fighters with "logistic, technical and military support."
Aoun lashed out at the Syrian rebels, accusing them of operating in Lebanese territory, especially in the Bekaa border town of Arsal.
"What are the Syrian rebels doing in Arsal?" Aoun asked rhetorically.
He noted that Christians in Syria are facing an "additional threat."
"War crimes are happening there, especially when rebels are entering monasteries. All international courts would put them on trial for that, because these are not military places, but rather religious places of worship," added Aoun.
"Do they have the right to enter (the Christian Syrian town of) Maalula and its churches? These are crimes against humanity. The 42 churches are not weapons depots. Why did they destroy the monument of the Virgin Mary?" the FPM leader said.
He suggested that the proposed Geneva 2 peace conference will be turned into "a conference for combating terrorism."
"The Qalamoun battle will continue and they started the battle in Maalula because of its symbolic nature, as it is not a strategic or military location and it is not a military target," Aoun went on to say.