Jumblat Rules Out Hizbullah Role in U.S. Action on Syria
Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has ruled out a Hizbullah involvement in any possible U.S. strike on Syria, saying the party and its Iranian backers are “keen on the residents of the South.”
There are fears that if the U.S. strikes Syria, Hizbullah would launch attacks on Israel from southern Lebanon.
Washington says a chemical attack on August 21 outside Damascus was perpetrated by the Assad regime. A Western strike against Syria had looked imminent last week, but U.S. President Barack Obama deferred the move and is seeking backing from Congress when it resumes sitting next week.
Jumblat urged Lebanon's rival political parties not to wager on the strike “because neither side will vanquish the other.”
The PSP chief, who is exerting intense efforts to facilitate Prime Minister designate Tammam Salam's mission, stressed that the rival March 8 and March 14 alliances have agreed on the form of the government which would reflect the status quo.
He ruled out the formation of a technocrat cabinet, saying it has become urgent to form an all-embracing government, which he described as an “excellent formula” proposed by Salam.
While Jumblat admitted that the division of shares in the government was still complicating the line-up, he confirmed that al-Mustaqbal movement had lifted its veto on Hizbullah.
The March 14 alliance led by al-Mustaqbal was urging Salam to exclude Hizbullah from the government over its role in Syria's war.
Jumblat warned against leaving the country without a new government as the presidential elections in May next year are approaching.
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