A Syrian Foreign Ministry source on Thursday rejected a US
accusation that Damascus is trying to topple the Lebanese
government with Iran and Lebanese Hezbollah, the official SANA news
agency reported.
Describing the US accusation as "inaccurate," the source said
that Syria has announced its support to what the Lebanese agreed
upon through their national dialogue since the withdrawal of Syrian
forces from Lebanon.
Meanwhile, the Syrian ruling party's al-Baath daily
dismissed in an editorial the US accusation as "pure rubbish,"
adding it "is meant to raise turmoil in Lebanon."
On Wednesday, the White House said that the United States had
"mounting evidence" that the Syrian and Iranian governments,
Hezbollah, and their Lebanese allies were preparing to topple the
Lebanese government and asked them to keep their "hands off."
US officials, however, refused to provide details or even
describe the information underpinning the accusation, saying it was
classified and keeping the charge vague "serves a diplomatic
purpose and an important one."
Shortly after the allegation was made, the Syrian Embassy in
Washington issued a statement, rejecting the claims as "ludicrous"
and "unfounded."
"Syria fully respects the sovereignty of Lebanon and does not
interfere in its internal politics. Therefore, we call on the
United States to follow suit and to stop instigating the Lebanese
people against each other and against other countries," the
statement said.
(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2006)
