U.S. Urges Restraint, Respect for Rule of Law in Lebanon
The United States urged Lebanese political parties on Wednesday to exercise restraint following deadly fighting between pro- and anti-Syrian groups.
“We call on all political actors in Lebanon to exercise restraint and respect for Lebanon’s security and to respect the rule of law,” said State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland.
“We have been in touch with the government of Lebanon throughout” the gunbattles, she said, stressing U.S. ambassador Maura Connelly “has been very much in touch” with Lebanese officials.
“The environment remains tense there,” Nuland added.
Also Wednesday, U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s spokesman, Martin Nesirky, told reporters in New York that “the Secretary-General has said he remains concerned about the possibility of there being an all-out civil war in Syria itself, and the consequences that that could have for the region.”
His remarks came in response to a question on the dangers of the Syrian crisis’ spillover to Lebanon.
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