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Syria promises to help end political crisis in Lebanon

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad yesterday promised at an Arab summit in Damascus to help resolve a political crisis in Lebanon, which boycotted the meeting, along with top figures from other Arab countries.

Eleven heads of state from the Arab League's 22 members were present at the opening, less than normal for the two-day annual event, reflecting suspicions that Syria has blocked the election of a new Lebanese president.

Along with Lebanon, three key US allies -- King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan -- stayed away from the summit, reducing the chances that it would break new ground on Lebanon and other conflicts.

The conflict over Lebanon reflects the wider struggle for regional influence between the US and Syria's ally Iran.

LEBANON REACTS

Assad dismissed the accusation that his country was behind the deadlock in Lebanon, which has not had a president since last November because the government and the Syrian-backed opposition have been unable to agree on a new Cabinet.

"We in Syria are fully prepared to cooperate with Arab or non-Arab efforts ... on condition that they are based on Lebanese national consensus, the basis for stability in Lebanon," Assad said in his opening speech as summit host.

He rejected criticism that Syria was meddling in Lebanon, saying: "On the contrary, the pressures which have been put on Syria for more than a year, and increasingly for the last several months, have been to have Syria intervene in Lebanese internal affairs."

"The key to a solution is in the hands of the Lebanese themselves. They have their homeland, their institutions and Constitution and they have the necessary awareness," he said.

In an uncharacteristically short speech devoid of provocative or confrontational language, Assad did not mention the absence of Lebanon or the low level of representation by the Arab governments allied to the Lebanese government and friendly to Washington.

Syria says the US campaigned to dissuade Arab leaders from attending.

SAUDI STATEMENT

In Saudi Arabia, Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal urged Syria yesterday to make a "positive move" to help implement an Arab plan leading to the election of a president in Lebanon.

"We hope ... the [Arab] summit will come up with a solution to the Lebanese crisis in keeping with the Arab League's initiative ... especially since the summit is being held in Damascus, from whom we continue to await a positive move on the Lebanese scene to implement the initiative," he told reporters.

A positive Syrian step would "complement the intense efforts exerted by Saudi Arabia and a number of Arab countries" to break the deadlock in Lebanon, Saud said at a news conference aired on Saudi-owned television channels.
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