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Damascus deploys 10,000 troops, claims Leb army
(AKI) - The Lebanese army claims 10,000 Syrian troops have been deployed on the border of Lebanon to prevent cross-border smuggling. The troops are part of a special unit trained to stop smuggling across the border between both countries."We asked the Syrians for clarification and they told us it's an internal situation, inside Syrian territory and not directed against Lebanon," a Lebanese army spokesperson told local network LBC. Syrian troops were stationed in Lebanon for over 30 years and withdrew in 2005 following the murder of former premier Rafik Hariri. His death was widely believed to be the work of the Syrian government and currently the subject of a United Nations inquiry. Since then the country has been deeply divided along sectarian and political lines. Recent clashes in the northern Lebanese port city of Tripoli have raised fears among politicians and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad asked Lebanese President Michel Suleiman to send more troops to Tripoli. Some politicians considered the request foreign interference in Lebanese affairs and believed that the clashes could be used as a possible excuse by Syria to return its troops to Lebanon. Tripoli is dominated by supporters of the anti-Syrian Sunni ruling coalition. Alawites - members of a small offshoot of Shia Islam allied to Syria - are allied to the Lebanese Shia opposition. Posted by: Fred 2008-09-23 |
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