U.S. accuses Syria, Iran, Hezbollah of trying to topple Lebanese government

The United States on Wednesday accused Syria, Iran, and Hezbollah of Lebanon of trying to topple the Lebanese government and warned them to keep their "hands off."

The White House is "increasingly concerned by mounting evidence that the Syrian and Iranian governments, Hezbollah, and their Lebanese allies are preparing plans to topple Lebanon's democratically elected government led by Prime Minister (Fouad) Siniora," White House spokesman Tony Snow said in a statement.

Snow refused to provide details or even describe the information underpinning the accusation, saying it was classified and that keeping the charge vague "serves a diplomatic purpose and an important one."

Instead, Snow said "Support for a sovereign, democratic, and prosperous Lebanon is a key element of U.S. policy in the Middle East."

"We're making it clear to everybody in the region that we think that there ought to be hands off the Siniora government; let them go about and do their business," he added.

"The United States is committed to working with its international partners and the legitimate government of Lebanon to ensure that the tribunal is quickly established and that all those responsible for the assassinations of Rafiq Hariri and other Lebanese patriots since 2005 are brought to justice," the spokesman said.

It was reported that the White House made the statement two days after Lebanon's Druze leader Walid Jumblatt sought U.S. backing for the international court to try suspects in Hariri's slaying.

Jumblatt complained of opposition to the court from Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emil Lahoud.

"If someone opposes this international court, that means that he is covering up the crime," Jumblatt, a leading anti-Syrian figure in Lebanon's parliament, told reporters after meeting Rice at the U.S. State Department.

Hariri was assassinated on Feb. 14, 2005 in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront that killed 22 others.

Source: Xinhua