| July 2009 - News |
| July 2009 |
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Assad urges Lebanese leaders to work together Syrian President Bashar al-Assad urged Lebanese leaders to work together in the wake of the country’s national elections in a telephone call to his Lebanese counterpart Michel Sleiman, the AFP news agency reported on June 10. “He [Assad] praised the spirit of entente that prevails in Lebanon, especially after the election,” a statement from Sleiman’s office said. The Lebanese elections, held on June 7, saw the US-Saudi-backed bloc headed by Saad Hariri, son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, win 71 seats in the 128-member parliament against 57 for the Shiite Hezbollah party and its pro-Syria Shiite and Christian allies. The Hezbollah-led opposition currently has veto power over key government decisions. Since winning the election, however, Hariri’s coalition has said it will not create another cabinet in which any bloc has veto power over government policy. Referring to the formation of the new Lebanese government, Assad also emphasised to Sleiman the need for cooperation to “confront future challenges”. The election was the first since Lebanon and Syria established diplomatic ties last October after years of strained relations. Syria came under international pressure to withdraw its troops from Lebanon following the assassination of Hariri in February 2005, ending a 29-year military presence in the country. Many in the March 14 coalition have accused Syria of being behind the assassination, allegations Damascus denies. |