Mansour Denies Labeling Syrian Shelling as Rumors: I Abide by the President's Orders

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour criticized on Thursday reports that said he had deemed Syrian shelling of Lebanese territory as rumors, saying that he will not comment on the campaign being directed against him.

He told the National News Agency: “I abide by the orders of President Michel Suleiman, the prime minister, and government.”

“I read several statements allegedly attributed to me, but I did not make any of them,” he remarked.

Al-Joumhouria daily had reported two days ago that the foreign minister had labeled the shelling as “rumors.”

Mansour added: “This campaign is targeting the Foreign Ministry. The president made his orders on the issue of the shelling and we will abide by them.”

Suleiman tasked on Tuesday Mansour with sending a letter of protest to Syria over air raids in the northeastern border area that violated Lebanese sovereignty on Monday.

The president said the air raids were “unacceptable” and “violated Lebanese sovereignty.”

“Suleiman's orders will be followed through via diplomatic channels,” explained Mansour.

“I do not comment on campaigns against me, the Syrian ambassador to Lebanon, and the Syrian regime, but I am carrying out my diplomatic and political duties in a manner that serves Lebanon's interest,” he stressed.

The president and prime minister's orders are taken seriously, he remarked.

“We will turn to the Amy Command and other concerned authorities, which will provide us with the necessary information upon which we will base our actions,” he added.

“The military authority said that Lebanese land was shelled and we do not deny this issue,” he stated.

“The president declared that a violation was committed, so how can we claim that nothing happened,” wondered Mansour.

“The denials are an insult to the presidency and Foreign Ministry, not the foreign minister,” he said.

The NNA had reported on Monday that Syrian fighter jets had shelled the outskirts of the towns of Khirbet Younin and Wadi al-Khayl in the outskirts of the Bekaa town of Arsal.