US Condemns Hezbollah ‘Intimidation’ in Lebanon

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WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States accused Hezbollah on Tuesday of using intimidation to gain government control in Lebanon and vowed that the work of the UN-backed Hariri tribunal would continue regardless.

“The make-up of Lebanon?s government is a Lebanese decision, but this decision should not be reached through coercion, intimidation and threats of violence,” State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, Hezbollah, backed by Syria, engaged in all three in pursuit of its political goals.”

Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati was named Lebanon’s prime minister-designate, giving the Iran- and Syria-backed Shiite militant group increased leverage in the deeply divided country to the anger of many Sunnis.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said earlier that the fact that Lebanon’s government was now Hezbollah-controlled would “clearly have an impact” on ties with the United States.

Hezbollah brought down Hariri’s Saudi- and Western-backed government on January 12 after a long-running dispute over a UN-backed tribunal probing the 2005 murder of his father, ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

The militant party had been pressing Hariri to disavow the tribunal, which it worries will implicate Hezbollah members.

“The work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is of vital importance to stability, security and justice in Lebanon: Its work will continue,” Crowley’s statement said.

“Especially at this challenging time, we call on all parties to maintain calm and exercise maximum restraint.”

Clinton said Washington was “closely and carefully” following events in Beirut, as she appeared at a press conference with Foreign Minister Trinidad Jimenez of Spain, which contributes troops to the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon.

“We both share deep concerns about the influence of outside forces, and we hope to see a government emerge that will serve the interests of the people of Lebanon and sustain the independence and sovereignty of Lebanon,” the chief US diplomat said.

“A Hezbollah-controlled government would clearly have an impact on our bilateral relationship,” she told reporters.

“Our bottom lines remain as they always have been. First, we believe that justice must be pursued and impunity for murder ended. We believe in Lebanon’s sovereignty and an end to outside interference.

“So as we see what this new government does, we will judge it accordingly.”

When asked whether Washington would continue to offer financial aid to the Lebanese government if Hezbollah had a prominent role, Crowley told reporters on Monday “that would be difficult for the United States to do.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110126/pl_afp/lebanonpoliticsusdiplomacy

US Condemns Hezbollah ‘Intimidation’ in Lebanon

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