The Bush administration has accused the governments of Syria and Iran, as well as the militant Lebanese group Hizbullah, of plotting to overthrow the elected government of Lebanon.
The accusation was made in a statement released Wednesday by the White House.
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Support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is a key element of US policy in the Middle East. We are therefore increasingly concerned by mounting evidence that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hizbullah, and their Lebanese allies are preparing plans to topple Lebanon's democratically-elected government led by Prime Minister [Fouad] Siniora.
Any attempt to destabilize Lebanon's democratically-elected government through such tactics as manufactured demonstrations and violence, or by physically threatening its leaders would, at the very least, be a clear violation of Lebanon's sovereignty and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559, 1680, and 1701.
The New York Times reports that the White House declined to offer any proof of the plot. However, US officials have said that because of the evidence, the US government feels it cannot diplomatically engage Syria or Iran, an approach advocated recently by several leading Republicans, including former Secretary of State James Baker.
The Los Angeles Times reports that US officials are specifically concerned about evidence that Iran and Syria are trying to install Hizbullah in a Lebanese "unity" government. Recently the leader of Hizbullah, Hassan Nasrallah, has asked for eight cabinet seats for Shiite Muslims in the government, up from an earlier demand of five. The Times reports that while the US provides political and financial support to Mr. Siniora's government, American influence is limited inside the country because of perceived US support for Israel during the conflcit this summer with Hizbullah.
Earlier this week, United Press International reported that Siniora warned that Hizbullah was pushing Lebanon towards the abyss when it threatened to bring down the government with street protests if Siniora did not resign within seven days and form a national unity government.
In a three-hour interview with Hizbullah's Manar Television Tuesday night, Nasrallah called for dialogue with the opposition on the formation of a national unity government to include his Christian ally Gen. Michel Aoun, a former army commander and leader of the Free Patriotic Movement.
The proposal for dialogue on a new government was made by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, head of the Shiite Amal Movement, who suggested a week-long deadline to resolve the crisis instead of resorting to the streets, a move which is bound cause friction.
Reuters reports that the Syrian government describes the accusations as "pure rubbish."
McClatchy reports US intelligence experts say that there is no evidence that Iran or Syria are planning military action in Lebanon. Rather, their focus appears to be on the political arena.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because intelligence is classified and they aren't authorized to speak to reporters, said Syria does appear intent on bullying Lebanon into abandoning any further investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and that Iran and Hizbullah are determined to expand Shiite political power in Lebanon. A UN investigation has implicated top Syrian and Lebanese officials in Hariri's assassination.
"What's new," said one of the officials, "is that the administration for the last few months has been looking for ways to turn up the heat on (Syrian President Bashar) Assad and (Iranian President Mahmoud) Ahmadinejad so both of them will turn down the heat in Iraq."
Meanwhile, the Guardian reports that the government of Israel and the US have "responded coolly" to British Prime Minister Tony Blair's bid to convince Syria to restart Middle East peace talks. Earlier this week Mr. Blair sent his senior envoy, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, on a supposedly secret mission to Damascus.
The visit marks a significant shift in British foreign policy. Britain made a big effort to win over Mr Assad after he became leader in 2000, inviting him on a state visit to the UK. But a return visit to Damascus by Mr Blair ended badly when the Syrian president gave him a public lecture. The mission this week was supposed to be secret but Ibrahim Hamidi, a journalist on the London-based Al-Hayat daily paper, disclosed on Tuesday that the talks had taken place.
Blair, who has said he will devote the reamining months that he is Prime Minister to tackling the region's conflicts, is planning to visit the Middle East before the end of the year. British official say, however, that he was not likely to include Syria in his tour.
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Feedback appreciated. E-mail Tom Regan.
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