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Lebanon formally rejects U.S. anti-terror appeal

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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