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U.S. says Lebanon justified
in attacks on camp
Sue Pleming
Reuters
Monday May 21, 2007
The United States voiced concern on Monday over fighting in Lebanon
but said the country's security forces were justified in their attacks
against Islamist militants in a Palestinian refugee camp.
The White House urged all sides to take a "step back"
from the violence and said it was worried over civilian casualties.
"We are firm believers in Lebanon's democracy and sovereignty
and support (Lebanese) Prime Minister (Fouad) Siniora's efforts
to deal with fighting in the country," said White House spokesman
Tony Fratto, who is in Crawford, Texas, with President George W.
Bush.
At least 70 people have been killed in two days of violence and
Lebanese tanks continued to shell militants in a Palestinian refugee
camp near Tripoli in northern Lebanon on Monday.
The U.S. State Department said Lebanon's security forces were "rightfully"
acting to enforce law and order.
"It would appear that the Lebanese security forces are working
in a legitimate manner to provide a secure, stable environment for
the Lebanese people in the wake of provocations and attacks by violent
extremists," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack told
reporters.
McCormack said the militants, who come from the al-Qaeda-inspired
Fatah al-Islam group, were committed to violence and the use of
terror.
Asked whether he was concerned about the stability of Siniora's
government in the face of the latest fighting, McCormack said Siniora
was an "effective, strong" leader.
"Prime Minister Siniora's government has proven to be remarkably
stable and resilient in the face of a number of political as well
as violent provocations by those interested in undermining democratic
progress in Lebanon," said McCormack.
"We have every confidence that he will act in the best interests
of the Lebanese people dealing with these various challenges,"
he added.
The latest conflict is Lebanon's worst internal violence since
the 1975-90 civil war.
Last summer, the United States was harshly criticized for giving
Israel the green light to continue attacking Lebanon's Hezbollah
guerrillas while others were calling for an immediate cease-fire
in a war that lasted 34 days.
The United States provides assistance to Lebanon's security forces
to help the country's fragile government as it faces a challenge
from the Hezbollah-led opposition. The United States has designated
Hezbollah a terrorist group
In recent months, the United States has delivered scores of new
vehicles to Lebanon's security forces as well as riot control equipment
and other gear as part of a $40 million military aid package.
Asked whether Lebanese security forces were getting any assistance
from the United States in their attacks against Islamist militants,
McCormack said the latest fighting was an "internal" Lebanese
issue.
The United States has also pledged nearly $770 million in aid to
rebuild Lebanon after last year's war with Israel.
(Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Crawford, Texas)
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