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Hezbollah Slams UN ‘Interference’ in Lebanese Affairs | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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File photo shows a Hezbollah Supporter, holding up a poster for the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, during a rally organized by for Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s visit to the southern border town of Bint Jbeil. (AP)


File photo shows a Hezbollah Supporter, holding up a poster for the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, during a rally organized by for Iranian President Ahmadinejad's visit to the southern border town of Bint Jbeil. (AP)

File photo shows a Hezbollah Supporter, holding up a poster for the Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei, during a rally organized by for Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s visit to the southern border town of Bint Jbeil. (AP)

BEIRUT (AFP) – Lebanon’s Shiite Hezbollah movement Wednesday accused the United Nations of interfering in Lebanese affairs, days after the world body warned tension in the country could affect the entire region.

The UN on Monday released a report on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1559, which calls for the disbanding and disarmament of all militias on Lebanese soil and the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon.

In the report, released after a controversial visit to Lebanon by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week, UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned that Lebanon had been hit by a new climate of “uncertainty” that could cause instability across the Middle East.

“The report released by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Resolution 1559 … marks interference in internal Lebanese affairs as well as political interference in the affairs of the international tribunal,” Hezbollah said in a statement.

Tension has been rising in Lebanon over the UN-backed tribunal, which is probing the 2005 assassination of Lebanese ex-premier Rafik Hariri, amid unconfirmed reports the court will indict members of Hezbollah.

The Iranian-backed group has warned such an eventuality will have repercussions in Lebanon and called for a local investigation into the murder instead.

“It would seem that Ban Ki-moon… failed to notice that Hezbollah, and for quite some time, has been at the heart of Lebanese politics through its representation in parliament and cabinet,” Hezbollah’s statement said.

“It would also seem that he did not find the time to read Lebanon’s government statement.”

Saad Hariri’s hard-won government in November adopted a policy statement that acknowledged Hezbollah’s right to use its weapons against Israel, despite disagreement by mainly Christian members of the ruling majority.

Hezbollah, which fought a bloody 2006 war with Israel, is the only group that refused to turn in its arms after the 1975-1990 Lebanese civil war.

It argues its arsenal is necessary to protect the country against the Jewish state, which withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.

File photo shows Hezbollah Supporters holding posters of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during a rally organized by Hezbollah in Beirut. (AP)

File photo shows Hezbollah Supporters holding posters of Iranian President Ahmadinejad, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah during a rally organized by Hezbollah in Beirut. (AP)

File photo shows Lebanon's Hezbollah celebrating the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad during his speech in the south Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. (R)

File photo shows Lebanon’s Hezbollah celebrating the visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinajad during his speech in the south Lebanese town of Bint Jbeil. (R)