Lebanon: US Voices Support for Release of Indictments, Lebanon Alleges Internal Interference

On Monday, the controversial sealed indictments for the Special Tribunal on Lebanon were issued. President Barack Obama welcomed the indictment and called on Lebanese leaders to preserve calm and exercise restraint. Mona Yacoubian, writing at Foreign Policyargued that it seems likely that Hezbollah will use political tactics to overcome the crisis instead of violent ones. Hezbollah supporters gathered on streets Tuesday, however, “to send a message and at the same time [have] a trial run for future potential action on the streets.” Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, speaking on Sunday evening, rejected the re-nomination of Saad Hariri as prime minister, vowed to defend the Shiite movement against the indictments, and called for a “Lebanese solution” to the crisis. Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Ali al-Shami accused US ambassador Maura Connelly of interfering in Lebanon’s internal affairs after she met with the independent Greek Catholic MP, Nicolas Fattoush, who is seen as a pivotal figure in building a new coalition. State Department spokesman Phillip Crowley denied such allegations: ”We are respecting Lebanon’s sovereignty and we would hope other countries would as well.” Arab foreign ministers also met on Monday to discuss the situation in Lebanon, but disagreed on what steps to take to help the country out of the current crisis.

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