Lebanon formally rejects U.S. anti-terror appeal
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, November 9, 2001
NICOSIA Ñ Lebanon has officially refused a U.S. request to freeze
assets of Hizbullah and Palestinian groups deemed by Washington as
terrorists.
Lebanese sources said the decision by the Beirut government was relayed
to both U.S. ambassador Vincent Battle and the State Department in
Washington. The sources said Lebanon regards Hizbullah and Palestinian
groups as liberation movements.
"Lebanon's stance is that there is a difference between defining
terrorism and the groups that seek to liberate their countries," Lebanese
Finance Minister Fouad Saniora said.
Washington has submitted a list of more than 60 names of people sought
for links with Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden or for attacks against the
United States. The Bush administration has also pressed Lebanon to freeze
the assets of those on the State Department's list of terrorist groups.
"This is obviously a slight change in the atmosphere of cooperation that
we have had heretofore on the issue of Osama Bin Laden and the network of
terrorist organizations linked to Osama Bin Laden," Battle said after
meeting Lebanese parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday.
Battle said he would pursue the issue with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Haririr. At the time, Hariri was in Damascus consulting with Syrian leaders.
A Lebanese Cabinet meeting was scheduled for Friday.
Lebanese sources said U.S. diplomats urged Beirut to freeze assets of
certain parts of Hizbullah. The appeal was meant to allow the
Iranian-sponsored group to continue its political activities. They said
Beirut's refusal could result in U.S. sanctions on Lebanese banks.
In Washington, the State Department acknowledged difficulties in
obtaining Lebanon's cooperation in the U.S.-led war against terrorism.
Officials said a vigorous private dialogue is being conducted with both
Lebanon and its Syrian patron.
"First of all, don't conclude that that is our only request [from
Lebanon and Syria]," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said. "I
wouldn't make that conclusion."
Lebanese sources said Washington is also pressing Iran to reduce its
involvement in Lebanon. The sources said Iran has pledged to withdraw up to
700 agents and trainers from such countries as Bosnia, Lebanon and Sudan.
But in Teheran, Iranian officials said the issue has not been settled.
They said a debate continues in Teheran over whether to cooperate with
Washington in the war against terrorism.
A key ally of Iranian President Mohammed Khatami, Mohammed Salamati, has
described the war in Afghanistan as "the gravest challenge to Iran's
security and national interests since World War II."
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