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Lebanese MPs Demand Expulsion of U.S. Ambassador
BEIRUT, Dec. 12 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Several members of Lebanon's parliament slammed Wednesday comments made by United States Ambassador Vincent Battle, who called Hezbollah a "terrorist organization", on Lebanese television, news agencies reported.
The MPs emphasized that they completely support the comments made by Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, which argue that Hezbollah is a legitimate resistance movement, resisting Israeli occupation, and not a terrorist group.
Speaking to the Lebanese daily newspaper, Al-Anwar, Lebanese MP Ibrahim Bayan said Tuesday that the American envoy in Lebanon crossed all boundaries of decency and was insulting. He asked the Lebanese government to take the decision to expel him and to ask the U.S. administration for a formal apology for Lahoud and the Lebanese people.
Former Lebanese prime minister Salim Al-Hoss said that Battle's comments were factually incorrect since Hezbollah is an organization that is fighting Israeli occupation and that it operates in full legitimacy in Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Lebanese sources, which preferred to remain anonymous, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the Lebanese foreign ministry might summon Battle and ask him for an explanation for his recent comments, which attacked Lahoud's comments.
He added that it is impermissible for any envoy to attack the president of the country to which he is sent to, regardless of its size, whether by phone or in person. The sources added that there are diplomatic channels to voice disagreement, but not on television.
In an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Channel (LBC) on Sunday, Battle said that Hezbollah was a "terrorist organization" and added that Lahoud's comments saying that Hezbollah is local movement with no international limbs did not convince the United States.
Battle accused Hezbollah of training Hamas and Islamic Jihad to perform military operations against Israel.
"Hezbollah must stop using terrorism for their resistance acts," said the U.S. envoy.
Lebanon had agreed to the United Nations decision to freeze the assets of terrorist organizations, but Beirut refuse to freeze the assets of Hezbollah, stating that it is an official party performing legitimate resistance movements against Israel. Lebanon has asked the United States to remove Hezbollah from the terrorist list.
On Nov. 2, the U.S. State Department issued, without the approval of the United Nations, a list of 22 organizations which they view as being terrorist, including Hezbollah.
The United Kingdom also included the organization of "external security", affiliated to Hezbollah, among 25 organizations it regarded as being terrorist.
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