Hezbollah denies al-Qaida links once again

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 22 (UPI) -- Lebanon's militant Hezbollah denies accusations it has links to al-Qaida as charged by the U.S. commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

"We have asserted in the past and on several occasions that American claims about the existence of links between Hezbollah and al-Qaida are wrong, untrue and lacking any credibility," Hezbollah said in a statement issued Thursday.

"The U.S. insistence to implicate Hezbollah in this case proves U.S. enmity and hostility against Islamic movements, especially Hezbollah."

Hezbollah is among the groups the United States has labeled terrorist organizations with global reach.