US accuses Syria, Iran over Lebanon tensions

AFP, United Nations, Oct 28, 2010 – The United States on Thursday accused Syria and Iran of fuelling tensions in Lebanon with arms supplies and other support for the Hezbollah militia in contravention of UN resolutions.
US ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, singled out Syria for sharp criticism, saying it has shown ’flagrant disregard’ for Lebanon’s independence.
She said Syria and Iran were seeking ’to undermine Lebanon’s independence and endanger stability.’
Rice said Hezbollah remains the most heavily-armed militia in Lebanon but could not do so ’if not for Syria’s aide and facilitation of Syrian and Iranian arms’ in violation of UN Security Council resolution 1747.
The ambassador read a US government statement as the UN Security Council debated new tensions in Lebanon and an attack in Beirut on Wednesday on UN investigators.
Rice said that Syria, Iran and Hezbollah ’believe that escalating sectarian tensions will help them assert their own authority over Lebanon. However these actors serve only to destabilize Lebanon and the region.
’Syria especially has displayed flagrant disregard for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of Lebanon under the sole and and exclusive authority of the Lebanese government.
’Syria continues to provide increasingly sophisticated weapons to Lebanese militias, including Hezbollah’ despite UN resolutions banning such supplies, Rice said.
The Security Council debated Lebanon after a group of women attacked on Wednesday investigators from a UN probe into the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri at a Beirut gynaecology clinic, snatching a briefcase but causing no injuries.