NewsMine — war-on-terror — mideast-misc — lebanon — Viewing Item

Annan urges syria iran to aid lebanese { November 18 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/18/AR2006111800456.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/18/AR2006111800456.html Annan urges Syria, Iran to aid Lebanese stability By Irwin Arieff Reuters Saturday, November 18, 2006; 12:07 PM UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan pressed Syria and Iran on Saturday to help promote the stability of Lebanon after the resignation of six of its government ministers. Annan spoke by telephone with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad about developments in Lebanon and the need for governments in the region and around the world "to promote the stability and the unity of Lebanon," U.N. chief spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Annan, who was traveling in St. Gallen, Switzerland, urged the two presidents to counsel Lebanon's leaders "to exercise patience and resolve their differences through dialogue," Dujarric said. Five ministers from Shi'ite groups Hezbollah and Amal quit the Lebanese Cabinet a week ago when talks over giving the opposition a greater say in government collapsed. A sixth minister, loyal to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, resigned on Monday. The resignations have thrown the government of anti-Syrian prime minister Fouad Siniora into crisis, raising questions about its legitimacy under Lebanon's complex Constitution. The United States has accused Tehran and Damascus of fueling pressure to bring about its collapse. The West accuses Iran and Syria of backing guerillas from the Hezbollah movement, which has long controlled southern Lebanon, feeding tensions with Israel and leading to a 34-day war which ended in a U.N.-brokered cease-fire on August 14. One casualty of the government crisis could be plans for a U.N. tribunal to try suspects in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Hariri was killed by a suicide truck bombing in Beirut in February 2005, sparking anti-Syrian protests and eventually the end of Syria's long-running military presence in Lebanon. A U.N. investigation, which is continuing, has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials, although Syria denies any role in the bombing. The United Nations developed plans for an international court for the case after Siniora told Annan the Lebanese justice system could not handle it. Annan submitted the plans to the government this month, but the six ministers resigned before they could be taken up. The remaining ministers approved the court blueprint last Monday and sent it back to Annan and the Security Council for final U.N. approval. But Lahoud promptly wrote Annan that the approval had been illegitimate. The 15-nation Security Council meets on Monday to consider the plan and whether the government's approval was valid. Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said last week Moscow wanted to check to make sure the government approval had been legitimate. © 2006 Reuters

Annan urges syria iran to aid lebanese { November 18 2006 } Army fears sectarian violence in lebanon { December 5 2006 } Beirut protests camping against western government { December 5 2006 } Bush warns syria iran after lebanon killing { October 2006 } Hezbollah gains power in lebanon after fighting { May 16 2008 } Hezbollah overruns west beirut { April 2008 } Hezbollah rebuilds beirut { November 18 2007 } Israel bombs beirut airport hezbollah tv { June 2006 } Lebanon shiites grapple with new feeling of power { December 10 2006 } Party of slain lebanese modeled after nazi party { October 2006 } Slain lebanese politician worked with fascists { November 21 2006 } US blocked plans to disarm hezbollah { September 25 2007 } Files Listed: 12

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.