AMMAN/DAMASCUS, 1 November 2007 — Jordan and Germany yesterday called for “national reconciliation” in Lebanon, where a deadlock between pro- and anti-Syrian factions has led to a political crisis. “The two sides stressed that achieving national reconciliation in Lebanon is a must under the critical circumstances,” Prime Minister Marouf Bakheet said after talks with visiting German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung.
Rival camps in the Lebanese Parliament have so far been unable to agree on a successor to the pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, whose term runs out on Nov. 24. Fears are running high that the deadlock could lead to two rival governments and a return to the final years of the 1975-1990 civil war when two competing administrations battled for control.
Amman and Berlin “call on all Lebanese powers to set their country’s higher interest as a top priority and overcome their differences,” Bakheet, who is also defense minister, said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Syria dismissed yesterday as “false and fabricated” a claim by the leader of Lebanon’s parliamentary majority that Damascus was plotting to assassinate him and the Lebanese Western-backed prime minister.
Saad Hariri, the parliamentary majority leader, made the allegation Tuesday in Cairo, where he said there was a Syrian plot to kill him and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora ahead of crucial presidential elections next month.
Hariri, whose father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, was killed in a massive Beirut 2005 truck bombing that was widely blamed on Syria, did not elaborate on the details of the plot or say how he knew of it. Rafik Hariri’s assassination provoked an outcry that forced Syrian troops to leave Lebanon after a 29-year presence.
But when asked about reports that Syrian officials were behind the assassination plot, Saad said, “We have information about this and it is correct.” Syria’s official news agency SANA quoted an unnamed Syrian media official yesterday as challenging Saad to offer proof of his claim.
“In response to Hariri’s false accusations ... we ask him to present the documents which he claimed he possesses concerning his fabricated allegations,” SANA quoted the official.
Siniora yesterday backed Saad and said the Lebanese government will take precautions against assassination attempts but did not directly finger Syria. “We have received reliable information that preparations are under way (to carry out) assassination attacks,” Siniora told reporters in Beirut. “We condemn these attacks and those who think of committing them.”
— With additional input from agencies
