Post by Tulameen on Feb 15, 2005 18:20:27 GMT -5
U.S. recalls envoy from Syria
'Deep concerns' over ex-prime minister's killing in Lebanon
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Posted: 5:57 PM EST (2257 GMT)
(CNN) -- The United States announced Tuesday the recall of its ambassador to Syria in response to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States has "made it clear" it wants Syria, which maintains some 16,000 troops in Lebanon, to use its influence to prevent such attacks.
Investigators on Tuesday were looking through the rubble from Monday's massive bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed Hariri and 16 others.
"I have been very careful to say we really don't know who committed this murder at this point, but we do know what effect the Syrian presence in Lebanon has," Boucher said. "And we do know that it doesn't bring security for Lebanese."
Ambassador Margaret Scobey was returning to Washington for "urgent consultations," Boucher said, because of "deep concern, as well as our profound outrage, over this heinous act of terrorism."
"Syria maintains a sizable presence of military and intelligence officials in Lebanon in contravention of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559," Boucher said.
In addition to Syria's troops in Lebanon, Boucher said the United States has concerns about "the continued presence and operational activities of international terrorist groups, and of the Iranian regime on and through Syrian territory, and the use of Syrian territory by the Iraqi insurgency."
Monday's bombing occurred amid increasing political tensions in advance of Lebanon's parliamentary elections in May.
Lebanon's pro-Syrian government, which counts on its neighbor for security, has come under fire from a growing anti-Syrian opposition that says Lebanon can take care of its own security.
Hariri's supporters in the Lebanese political opposition said they held Syria and the pro-Damascus Lebanese government responsible for his murder.
'Deep concerns' over ex-prime minister's killing in Lebanon
Tuesday, February 15, 2005 Posted: 5:57 PM EST (2257 GMT)
(CNN) -- The United States announced Tuesday the recall of its ambassador to Syria in response to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States has "made it clear" it wants Syria, which maintains some 16,000 troops in Lebanon, to use its influence to prevent such attacks.
Investigators on Tuesday were looking through the rubble from Monday's massive bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed Hariri and 16 others.
"I have been very careful to say we really don't know who committed this murder at this point, but we do know what effect the Syrian presence in Lebanon has," Boucher said. "And we do know that it doesn't bring security for Lebanese."
Ambassador Margaret Scobey was returning to Washington for "urgent consultations," Boucher said, because of "deep concern, as well as our profound outrage, over this heinous act of terrorism."
"Syria maintains a sizable presence of military and intelligence officials in Lebanon in contravention of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1559," Boucher said.
In addition to Syria's troops in Lebanon, Boucher said the United States has concerns about "the continued presence and operational activities of international terrorist groups, and of the Iranian regime on and through Syrian territory, and the use of Syrian territory by the Iraqi insurgency."
Monday's bombing occurred amid increasing political tensions in advance of Lebanon's parliamentary elections in May.
Lebanon's pro-Syrian government, which counts on its neighbor for security, has come under fire from a growing anti-Syrian opposition that says Lebanon can take care of its own security.
Hariri's supporters in the Lebanese political opposition said they held Syria and the pro-Damascus Lebanese government responsible for his murder.