Coolassprov MC
24-05-07, 06:50
Leverde de VS wapens toen israel half Libanon plat legde?
Stomme vraag!
Het Libanese leger was toen gevlucht!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,2085702,00.html
US accuses Damascus over Lebanon violence
Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Soldiers patrol the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared in north Lebanon. Photograph: Ramzi Haidar/AFP/Getty Images
The Bush administration issued its most pointed warning yet to Syria today as another truce broke down and fighting was renewed at the Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr el-Bared, in northern Lebanon.
For a third successive day, Lebanese government troops, who have the backing of the US, attacked the camp, where Fatah al-Islam, a Palestinian group sympathetic to al-Qaida, is holed up.
With 40,000 Palestinian refugees caught in the crossfire, UN workers warned the death toll could be high and reported seeing many demolished buildings, with people still caught inside. Confirmed deaths so far are 22 militants, 32 soldiers and 27 civilians.
Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, read out a prepared statement in Washington in which he specifically named Syria.
"We believe those behind the attack have two clear goals: to disrupt Lebanon's security and to distract international attention from the efforts to establish a special tribunal for Lebanon."
The UN is trying to set up the tribunal to continue the investigation into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, for which Syria has been blamed.
Washington supports the Lebanese government, led by Fuad Siniora, which has been trying to shake off Syrian control.
Mr Snow said: "We will not tolerate attempts by Syria, terrorist groups or any others to delay or derail Lebanon's efforts to solidify its sovereignty or to seek justice in the Hariri case."
The Lebanese army yesterday asked the Pentagon to provide more ammunition to continue its assault. It also asked for bulletproof vests and helmets. The US, which has given $30m (£15.2m) in equipment to the Lebanese army over the past 12 months, including Humvees and helicopter spare parts, is likely to comply.
The White House warning to Syria comes only a fortnight after what appeared to be the beginnings of a rapprochement between Washington and Damascus. The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, met the Syrian foreign minister, Walid Moualem, at Sharm el-Sheik, in Egypt, for talks described by Mr Moualem as constructive.
Although the US is blaming Syria, Fatah al-Islam is reported to have been funded by Saudi Arabia as a Sunni group to counterbalance Hizbullah, a Shia group funded by Iran and, to a lesser extent, Syria. Damascus denies stirring up the violence to divert attention from the Hariri inquiry.
In a lull in the fighting today, a UN convoy carrying medicine, food and water made it into the camp. Three of the vehicles were later hit.
Although Fatah al-Islam is reported to number only about 100, they are dispersed among civilians. A UN staffer who works with Palestinian refugees told the Associated Press: "We have reports that there are dozens of homes that were destroyed with the residents inside."
Although Palestinians in other camps in Lebanon have so far stayed out of the conflict, dozens burned tyres in Ein Hillweh, a refugee camp in southern Lebanon, to protest against the assault yesterday.
The Arab League ambassadors, meeting in Cairo today, condemned the activities of Fatah al-Islam and expressed support for the Lebanese army.
Stomme vraag!
Het Libanese leger was toen gevlucht!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,2085702,00.html
US accuses Damascus over Lebanon violence
Ewen MacAskill in Washington
Tuesday May 22, 2007
Guardian Unlimited
Soldiers patrol the outskirts of the Palestinian refugee camp of Nahr el-Bared in north Lebanon. Photograph: Ramzi Haidar/AFP/Getty Images
The Bush administration issued its most pointed warning yet to Syria today as another truce broke down and fighting was renewed at the Palestinian refugee camp, Nahr el-Bared, in northern Lebanon.
For a third successive day, Lebanese government troops, who have the backing of the US, attacked the camp, where Fatah al-Islam, a Palestinian group sympathetic to al-Qaida, is holed up.
With 40,000 Palestinian refugees caught in the crossfire, UN workers warned the death toll could be high and reported seeing many demolished buildings, with people still caught inside. Confirmed deaths so far are 22 militants, 32 soldiers and 27 civilians.
Tony Snow, the White House press secretary, read out a prepared statement in Washington in which he specifically named Syria.
"We believe those behind the attack have two clear goals: to disrupt Lebanon's security and to distract international attention from the efforts to establish a special tribunal for Lebanon."
The UN is trying to set up the tribunal to continue the investigation into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister, Rafik Hariri, for which Syria has been blamed.
Washington supports the Lebanese government, led by Fuad Siniora, which has been trying to shake off Syrian control.
Mr Snow said: "We will not tolerate attempts by Syria, terrorist groups or any others to delay or derail Lebanon's efforts to solidify its sovereignty or to seek justice in the Hariri case."
The Lebanese army yesterday asked the Pentagon to provide more ammunition to continue its assault. It also asked for bulletproof vests and helmets. The US, which has given $30m (£15.2m) in equipment to the Lebanese army over the past 12 months, including Humvees and helicopter spare parts, is likely to comply.
The White House warning to Syria comes only a fortnight after what appeared to be the beginnings of a rapprochement between Washington and Damascus. The US secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, met the Syrian foreign minister, Walid Moualem, at Sharm el-Sheik, in Egypt, for talks described by Mr Moualem as constructive.
Although the US is blaming Syria, Fatah al-Islam is reported to have been funded by Saudi Arabia as a Sunni group to counterbalance Hizbullah, a Shia group funded by Iran and, to a lesser extent, Syria. Damascus denies stirring up the violence to divert attention from the Hariri inquiry.
In a lull in the fighting today, a UN convoy carrying medicine, food and water made it into the camp. Three of the vehicles were later hit.
Although Fatah al-Islam is reported to number only about 100, they are dispersed among civilians. A UN staffer who works with Palestinian refugees told the Associated Press: "We have reports that there are dozens of homes that were destroyed with the residents inside."
Although Palestinians in other camps in Lebanon have so far stayed out of the conflict, dozens burned tyres in Ein Hillweh, a refugee camp in southern Lebanon, to protest against the assault yesterday.
The Arab League ambassadors, meeting in Cairo today, condemned the activities of Fatah al-Islam and expressed support for the Lebanese army.