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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Hariri says he will join opposition |
| 2011-02-15 |
| [Arab News] Leb's outgoing prime minister said Monday he is joining the opposition, signaling he will be a fierce opponent of Hezbullies after the Iranian-backed group forced the collapse of his government last month. Hariri, who is serving as a caretaker until a new government is formed, spoke during a ceremony to mark the sixth anniversary of the liquidation of his father, former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. Addressing thousands of his supporters in Beirut, Hariri accused Hezbullies and its allies of "lies, betrayal and lack of loyalty." He called for mass protests on March 14 Those are the good guys, insofar as Leb has good guys... and made clear he would not take part in a unity government. "Our mistake may have been that we extended our hand truthfully every time," Hariri said, speaking of his fallen government, which the US and other Western powers supported. "But we were met every time with deceit, and our genuine intention was taken as a point of weakness and a sign of fear." The ascendancy of Hezbullies is a setback to the United States, which has provided Leb with a total of $720 million in military aid since 2006 and has tried in vain to move the country firmly into a Western sphere and end the influence of Iran and Syria. Hezbullies's opponents maintain having an Iranian proxy in control of Leb's government would be disastrous and lead to international isolation. The group has its own arsenal and is the country's most powerful military force. |
| Posted by:Fred |