U.S. Warns Opposition: We Will Not Stay Hands Tied

The United States has warned the Hizbullah-led opposition that it “will not stay hands tied” if the current political crisis in Lebanon continued, the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat reported Friday.

It said the warning was made in a letter delivered by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Welch to Arab League chief Amr Moussa.

 

Al Hayat quoted well-informed sources as saying that “Washington — given that it is a world super power — will certainly do something; and internationalizing the crisis is one option.”

 

The sources said Welch, during his meeting with Moussa in Cairo on Thursday, expressed strong resentment over failure of the Lebanese parliament to elect a President as well as failure of the Lebanese to implement the Arab League initiative.

 

Welch also voiced concern over the continuation of the political impasse.

“Continuation of the Lebanese crisis is a source of concern for everybody in the region and overseas, particularly for the Lebanese themselves,” Welch said after meeting Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.