BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Lebanon rejected accusations it has become a center - as alleged by Syrian President Bashar Assad -- for conspiracies against Syria.
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, who was singled out for criticism by Assad as being a renegade to Arab nationalism and solidarity, said Friday, "Lebanon refused to become a place where conspiracies could be made against Syria."
"Lebanon was and will always be committed to its Arab principles and values as well as to strong relations with Syria," Siniora told a news conference.
"We are keen on our Arab commitments and we will always be seeking distinctive relations with Syria. ... Lebanon will always be a sovereign neighbor of Syria and it will neither rule against Syria or be ruled by Syria," Siniora added.
In his speech at Damascus University Thursday, Assad lashed out at Lebanese politicians and members of the Lebanese government whom he did not name, except for Siniora, and whom he accused of taking siding with the West against Syria.
Syria is under international pressure to cooperate with a U.N. inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
A new Resolution 1636 passed unanimously at the Security Council threatened Syria with "further action" if it failed to cooperate with the inquiry.
The head of the U.N.-commissioned investigation, German Prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, named several Syrian suspects, including Assad's brother in law Asaf Shawkat, whom he reportedly wanted to interview at his headquarters in a Lebanese mountain resort.
In his speech, Assad said his country will cooperate with the inquiry, but did not say whether he would hand over suspects, including Rustom Ghazaleh, the head of Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon until the withdrawal last April.
