Lebanese president hopes Saudi endeavors can solve Lebanese crisis

Lebanese President Emile Lahoud hoped Monday that Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul-Aziz could succeed in his endeavors of holding the Arab Summit to solve the political crisis in Lebanon.

Lahoud, in a message to the Saudi Monarch, hoped the endeavors of Riyadh could help in reaching "solutions that strengthen unity among the Lebanese and boost principles of solidarity," according to a statement released here Monday by the presidential press office.

The Lebanese leader also hoped the Saudi efforts could help in securing a solid ground for a sustainable peace and national conciliation based on the Taef accord.

In his letter, President Lahoud expressed gratitude to the move by King Abdullah to formally invite him as the president of Lebanon to take part in the upcoming Arab Summit Meeting in Riyadh.

He also expressed his hope that the Arab Summit, which is due to be held on March 28-29, would adopt a united Arab stand to confront challenges facing the Arab world.

Saudi has spearheaded efforts to resolve the political crisis. In early March, Saudi King held a meeting with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his first official visit to the kingdom. Lebanon crisis was one of the main issues on the agenda of the Saudi-Iranian summit.

During the summit, the two top leaders also agreed to fight the spread of sectarian strife throughout the region.

Lebanese dispute has lasted for months in which politicians traded insults and their supporters clashed in the streets.

The disputes of the two rival political blocs concentrated on two main issues, namely the opposition's demand for a veto in the government and the majority's demand for the ratification of an international tribunal to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of ex-premier Rafik Hariri.

Source: Xinhua