The Bush administration has objected to a
move by Congress to withhold $10 million in U.S. aid to Lebanon.
Administration officials said the congressional decision will reduce
Washington's ability to win support in Lebanon and Syria for the U.S. effort
to topple the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. They said the freeze
also cuts into the president's authority to conduct foreign policy.
In Beirut, Lebanese authorities arrested three Al Qaida suspects. The
suspects were identified as two Lebanese nationals and an Arab resident from
a Gulf Cooperation Council country, Middle East Newsline reported.
Congress decided to withhold $10 million in U.S. economic aid to Lebanon
in response to Beirut's refusal to stop Hizbullah attacks on Israel.
Congressional leaders said Lebanon has ignored the Hizbullah military
buildup along Israel's border, including the deployment of nearly 10,000
rockets.
[On Tuesday, the London-based A-Sharq Al Awsat daily reported that
Argentina has submitted a request for the arrest of Hizbullah
secretary-general Hassan Nasrallah. The Argentinian request asserted that
Hizbullah, with Iranian help, masterminded the 1994 bombing of the Jewish
community center in Buenos Aires.]
The administration allocated $32 million for Lebanon this year.
Officials said the congressional freeze will not affect funding approved for
fiscal 2002.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Secretary of State Colin
Powell had expressed opposition to any cut in U.S. aid to Lebanon. Boucher
said U.S. aid is meant to bolster Lebanon's economy as well as promote
democracy and development.
"We have to work with the Congress to ensure our assistance programs are
fully supportive of our foreign policy goals," Boucher said on Monday. "But
we have that $32 million for Lebanon, and there has been no shortfall in our
assistance."
The London-based Al Hayat daily reported on Tuesday that the three
suspects were detained last week. The suspects were not identified.
