Naharnet

Asiri on Hizbullah's Searching of Embassy Car: No One Has Authority to Take over State Duties

Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri condemned Hizbullah members' searching of a Saudi Embassy car on Thursday, saying that such a development leaves a “negative impression” before the public, reported An Nahar daily on Saturday.

He told the daily: “No side has the right to perform the duties of the state.”

He hoped that the incident would not be repeated, because it violates diplomatic norms.

“I have long expressed my keenness on the kingdom's ties with Lebanon, its people and government, but the incident contradicts these strong bonds,” Asiri added.

He revealed that he had expressed his “strong objection” to the incident to caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and later caretaker Premier Najib Miqati.

For his part, Mansour apologized for the Hizbullah's inspection of the car, saying that contacts are ongoing with the concerned sides in order to avert future incidents, remarked the ambassador.

The Saudi Embassy in Lebanon objected on Friday to Hizbullah's searching of one of its vehicles in Beirut, reported LBCI television.

It said that it filed the complaint to the Foreign Ministry after members of the party stopped an embassy vehicle in the Gallery Semaan area near Beirut's southern suburbs.

The members recorded the names of the embassy employees riding in the car before allowing them to continue on their way.


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