Siniora blames Syria for Lebanon's prolonged crisis
BEIRUT (AFP) — Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora on Friday blamed Syria for his country's prolonged political crisis in a televised speech on the eve of an Arab summit in Damascus set to focus on the issue.
"Lebanon has had a presidential void for more than four months," Siniora said. "Before and during that period Syria played a leading role to exacerbate the crisis... interfering in Lebanon's internal affairs and blocking the election of the consensus candidate to the presidency."
His speech came as the Arab League prepared to meet in Damascus with Lebanon's presidential stalemate set to top the agenda.
Siniora said his government had decided to boycott the annual gathering because of Syrian meddling in Lebanese affairs. He said the presidential vacuum was clear evidence of such interference.
He urged Arab League foreign ministers to hold a special meeting as soon as possible to help repair tense Lebanese-Syrian relations, and said his government was keen on establishing diplomatic relations with Damascus.
"The Lebanese government stresses once again its desire to establish healthy, brotherly relations with Syria based on mutual respect for each other's sovereignty and independence," Siniora said.
He added that the border between the two countries needed to be clearly defined, and called on Syria to cooperate with the Lebanese government in dealing with the disarmament of factions operating outside Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
"In light of Syria's links to Palestinian factions... we call on the Syrian authorities to cooperate in disarming military bases outside the camps and to help deal with the issue of weapons inside the Palestinian camps," he said.
And in a clear reference to alleged weapons smuggling from Syria and extremist elements infiltrating Lebanon, Siniora said both countries had a responsibility to prevent their territory from being used by groups that could threaten security and stability.
For more than a year Lebanon has been mired in a political crisis that has pitted the Western-backed government against the Hezbollah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran.
The crisis has prevented the election of a president and is widely seen as an extension of the wider confrontation in which the United States has squared up against both Syria and Iran.
Syria has been widely blamed for continuing to meddle in Lebanon's affairs, even after it withdrew its troops from the country in the outcry following the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.
Hariri's death in a massive car bombing and a subsequent series of similar attacks against anti-Syrian figures have been blamed on Damascus, which denies any involvement.
