09 May 2008
Rice Condemns Terrorist Group Hezbollah’s Attacks in Lebanon
United States supports legitimate Lebanese government
Washington -- The United States continues to offer its full support to the legitimate Lebanese government, and condemns the armed attack by Hezbollah and its allies, says Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"We condemn the use of force by illegitimate armed groups and call upon all parties to respect the rule of law," Rice said May 9 in a prepared statement.
Rice said the United States will stand by the Lebanese government and its citizens through the crisis and provide support as needed.
A Lebanese government spokesman told the Reuters news service that "the armed and bloody coup which is being implemented aims to return Syria to Lebanon and extend Iran's reach to the Mediterranean." Hezbollah began street fighting May 7 and had seized large sections of western Beirut by May 9. The group set fire to the offices of the newspaper al-Mustaqbal and forced an affiliated satellite television station off the air.
The eruption of violence marks the most severe sectarian fighting since the 1975-1990 civil war. The current unrest has resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people and the wounding of another 20, according to news reports May 9.
"We are very troubled by the recent actions of Hezbollah,” White House deputy press secretary Gordon Johndroe said May 9. "We urge Hezbollah to stop their attempt to defy the lawful decisions taken by the democratically elected Lebanese government. We also urge Iran and Syria to stop their support of Hezbollah and its destabilizing effects on Lebanon.”
Earlier in the week, the government ordered Hezbollah to close its telecommunications center in Beirut, which the government regards has a threat to its sovereignty. Fighting then escalated May 8 after the government said it would shut down the network.
Hezbollah and its allies, backed by Syria and Iran, are killing and injuring Lebanese and undermining the legitimate authority of the government, Rice said.
"Seeking to protect their state-within-a-state, Hezbollah has exploited its allies and demonstrated its contempt for its fellow Lebanese,” Rice said. "No one has a right to deprive Lebanese citizens of their political and economic freedom, their right to move freely within their country, or their sense of safety and security.”
As in past years, the United States has identified Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization in its 2007 Country Reports on Terrorism, released in April.
The full text of Rice's statement is available on America.gov.
