Americas

Americas

Hezbollah lashes out at U.S. senator’s call to establish a safe zone for Syrian rebels

06 July 2012 22:15 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA.visiting U.S. Senator John McCain for his remarks on the establishment of "a safe zone" in Lebanon for the Syrian rebels, the National News Agency reported, APA reports quoting XInhua.

Hezbollah issued a statement in which it lashed out on the U.S. senator’s call, describing his comments as "a foundation to interfere in Syria, and a blatant violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and an insolent interference in Lebanon’s affairs."

McCain said Thursday "I have always underlined the need to support the Free Syrian Army that needs weapons. Since President Bashar al-Assad is receiving arms from the Russians, we need to offer a safe zone for the Free Syrian Amy and the Syrian resistance for it to organize its affairs."

The Shia group also said that Lebanon was not "one of the banana republics which the U.S. administration can dictate foreign policies to, or interfere in its affairs whenever it wants."

However, McCain told Future bloc leader former PM Fouad Seniora that he did not advocate establishing "a safe zone" in Lebanon.

Hezbollah called on the Lebanese authorities to object the blatant "American interference" in its affairs.

McCain met with Lebanese politicians during a two-day visit to Lebanon where he discussed local and regional issues.